VIDEO: 'Business class' Stormers sticking to their winning template
It was a refreshed and desirous Stormers team that arrived in Scotland at the weekend to start the build-up to their United Rugby Championship quarterfinal face-off against Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday.
Unlike previous trips to Europe, the South African franchise departed early and travelled business class.
Forwards coach Rito Hlungwani said they made ‘good use’ of the benefit of a bye week (while the European finals were ongoing) to get some extra quality training ahead of the play-offs.
Despite the absence of some players, who were at the Springboks alignment camp, they managed to get plenty of preparation done ahead of their departure last Friday.
“We have enough time,” Hlungwani said, adding: “We were not ‘rushed’ like our last trip.”
He said that business class travel also means there is a lot less ‘travel fatigue’ and allows for a full training week.
The assistant coach said they have finally found their groove and the way they want to play, adding that they are now in a good space.
“We have implemented the Stormers template,” he told @rugby365com, adding: “We want to get better at that.
“We also have to be ready for whatever Glasgow brings to the table.
“In short, we want to improve that Stormers template that we presented so well in recent matches.
“We feel, if we do that well, everything else will look after itself.”
(WATCH as Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani and loose forward Marcel Theunissen talk about the big Glasgow URC face-off.…)
Loose forward Marcel Theunissen said that having flown ‘business class’, everyone is “rested” and looking forward to the build-up to the face-off in Glasgow.
“It was a good week last week,” he said, adding that they are looking forward to a normal week of pre-match preparation in Scotland.
The loose forward said they can’t afford to focus on just one aspect of the defending champions’ game.
“You have to be on top of your game in the scrums, mauls, breakdown and open play,” Theunissen told @rugby365com.
“You can’t afford to be off in any aspect and be on top of your game for 80 minutes.”
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