Stormers won't abandon their 'identity' in play-offs
SPOTLIGHT: After exceeding expectations and finishing the season in second place, the Stormers are not going to change their approach in the United Rugby Championship play-offs.
The Capetonians won many plaudits for their enterprising style, which helped them become the South African Shield winners.
Opposition defences seem to struggle against the Stormers’ high-speed approach on attack – with players like Damian Willemse, Warrick Gelant, Leolin Zas, Manie Libbok, Seabelo Senatla and Evan Roos have flourished in the Trans-hemisphere tournament.
Zas is currently the top try-scorer (11), while no one has beaten more defenders than Roos (49).
It’s for that reason that they are backing themselves to deliver the goods again when they face Edinburgh in their quarterfinal in Cape Town on Saturday.
“To be fair, the last eight games for us were almost like knockout games, because we knew that if we slipped up in one, we would not have won the Shield,” Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman said.
“Every week it was the same speech from Dobbo: ‘This is the most important game’.
“For this one [quarterfinal] if you lose you are out, but I don’t think we will change much.
“We are comfortable in the way we want to play.
“We understand when we want to execute certain things in a match, so our approach will be the same and our mindset will be the same.”
The story continues below…
🚨 After 1️⃣8️⃣ rounds of passion, power and precision…
Here’s how it stands when North plays South ⬇️#URC pic.twitter.com/A8CGiobDlc
ADVERTISEMENT— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) May 29, 2022
The Edinburgh threat
Snyman knows that Edinburgh will be a stern test, as they are a team that can switch things up in an instant.
“They are a team that can adapt as well and they got a good kicking game,” Snyman explained.
“We saw in their game against Glasgow that they can change it up a bit.
“They were playing for their Shield and it was a high-pressure game, but with their backline, they have shown that they like to throw the ball around and they thrive in a high-tempo game, so we have to prepare for a team that can do both.
“One thing they will bring this weekend is confidence.
“They have beaten the Sharks in Durban and they came really close to beating the Lions in Johannesburg, so they had a good tour.
“We will have a look at what they did in South Africa.
“They strongly believe in what they are doing at their home base. That is their style and that is their DNA.
“There are a few South Africans in their pack and they would want to show their mettle there.
“They also have a few exciting backs that can play when you give them space.
“They are quite a well-rounded team and they got a few threats around the park.”
@rugby365com
