VIDEO: Stormers not about to 'reinvent the game'
The Stormers are not about to produce a new playbook when they host Ulster in the United Rugby Championship semifinal in Cape Town on Saturday.
Captain Steven Kitshoff, speaking ahead of the crunch match with the powerful Irish province, said they are not going to stray from the formula that has produced a nine-match winning streak.
It has been a dramatic turnaround for the Cape Town-based franchise this season.
Defeats to Benetton, Munster and the Lions – to go with a draw against Edinburgh and a win over the Dragons – had the Stormers sitting outside the top 10 when they returned from a COVID-enforced break in January.
They recorded a win over the Bulls and the draw with the Sharks, before a trip to the Sportsground in Galway in February – for what was their last slip of the season.
The Stormers have won their last nine matches since and have lost just once at home all season in the URC – that 19-37 loss to the Lions in December.
Captain Steven Kitshoff admitted that back in January their ‘lofty’ goal was just to finish in the top eight.
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“As the season progressed and we started gaining momentum, gaining some confidence, our priorities and goals shifted,” he told @rugby365com.
He said they had a ‘clear picture’ of what they wanted to achieve.
“The team just kept working hard,” the skipper said, adding: “Some good analysis and coaching got us where we are.”
He said one of their biggest adjustments was around the kicking game, how they shifted the contact point and organised their defence.
“We put a lot of focus on the aspects of our game that functions well.
“We don’t try to reinvent the game every week.
“We understand want makes us good, so for us, it is just about improving on that.”
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