The DHL Stormers have welcomed the problem of dealing with a extremely motivated Lions aspect within the Vodacom URC’s ultimate spherical, even with out Damian Willemse’s companies.
Already by way of to the Vodacom URC playoffs, the DHL Stormers will host the Lions within the ultimate spherical of motion in Cape City on Saturday afternoon.
The ninth-placed Lions might be determined for any optimistic consequence on Saturday because the guests look to safe a spot within the URC’s prime eight for the primary time of their historical past.
Talking forward of the North-South conflict, backline coach Dawie Snyman says the Stormers are welcoming the problem of a giant South African derby earlier than the URC playoffs subsequent weekend.
“We aren’t wanting previous the Lions. They’re a top quality aspect and might be coming right down to Cape City to get one thing out of the sport. We expect fairly a troublesome sport.
“The Lions will come down on a mission. There’s a lot at stake for them. Additionally, they don’t know what they want. So their first purpose might be to beat us.
“Saying that, we’re specializing in ourselves. We all know what the Lions will deliver. We’ve already analysed them, we all know their strengths and the place there could be one or two alternatives for us.
“Our motivation might be to place up a great Stormers efficiency. It’s truly good that the Lions are coming down with a whole lot of motivation, as a result of they may take a look at us and we want that sort of take a look at.”
Though the Stormers have welcomed scrumhalf Paul de Moist and wing Ben Loader again to full coaching this week, after each missed the two-match tour, they are going to be with out Damian Willemse.
The influential Springbok utility again needed to go beneath the knife on a finger ligament damage which has introduced his season to a untimely finish.
Snyman mentioned the Stormers will look to both Wandisile Simelane or Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who can also be recovering from a finger damage, to take Willemse’s place in midfield, whereas Manie Libbok and Warrick Gelant will tackle a higher management position.
“Shedding Damian is a large blow. He brings a whole lot of management within the group and everyone knows he’s a terrific participant,” Snyman mentioned.
“We’ve bought different choices. We’ve bought Wandi and Sacha who can go to centre. These guys should step up. We’re additionally counting on Manie and Warrick to fill that void that Damian will depart, they may step up and take the management, which they’ve been doing.
“It’s by no means good to lose a giant participant like that, but it surely is a chance for the kids.”
Whereas their place within the final eight is already safe, the Stormers won’t be throwing a “B-team” into motion in opposition to the Lions, as they’ve emphasised continuity forward of the playoffs.
“With our choice, we are going to attempt to construct a little bit of depth in a single or two areas, however we additionally need to persist with sure mixtures that we all know might be vital,” Snyman defined.
“The blokes didn’t play final weekend, so we don’t need their final sport – after this one – to be three weeks in the past earlier than a quarter-final. Cohesion is vital for us at this stage and we need to maintain constructing on that.
“We decided as a group a number of weeks in the past that we have to go into playoff mode,” Snyman added. “We went on tour figuring out we needed to win each video games after the loss to the Ospreys.
“It’s the identical factor for Saturday. We’ve to win. It’s vital for us. Whether or not it’s by one level or two, it doesn’t matter. As group, we by no means converse concerning the unhealthy information, we at all times take a look at what we are able to do it win video games. That focus will keep the identical this week.”
Picture: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Photographs