Once a captain, always a captain. Corné Krige, former leader of the Stormers and the Springboks, isn't shy about tossing his two cents into the ring. With the Stormers recently slipping to third in the URC standings after a couple of rough games against the Sharks, Krige is rallying the troops from the sidelines, confident that the Cape Town crew can turn their fortunes around as the playoffs loom. Adding a glimmer of hope, the squad has welcomed back key players, including loose forward Hacjivah Dayimani and the seasoned flank Deon Fourie, alongside backs Ruhan Nel, Dan du Plessis, and Seabelo Senatla.
For Krige, it's all about the noggin. "It’s amazing how confidence can take you a long way, and when you lose that confidence, how quickly things can go backwards," he noted, reflecting on the recent losses.
"It was a confidence thing against the Sharks. They could’ve won both those games even though the scores didn’t necessarily reflect that. They were in both those games into the last 15-20 minutes. It’s a mental thing, and if they get it right, they are very difficult to beat."
Despite their setbacks, Krige hasn't lost faith in the team's core strengths. "Their forwards are strong, they’ve got the basics right and they’ve got exciting backline players so I think they’re still in the mix. They must just get their heads right and another win will take them a long way," he asserted.
However, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows; the Stormers' set piece, typically a fortress of strength, showed cracks against the Sharks, particularly in the lineout. Injuries to key players like captain Salmaan Moerat and Ruben van Heerden didn't help matters. With a crucial match against the Lions at Ellis Park on the horizon, Krige is optimistic about improvements. "I think over the last three weeks, they really would’ve worked at getting their lineouts sorted, because if you lose a few in the first half, it counts against you. It becomes a confidence thing," he explained, emphasizing the importance of securing lineouts to execute their game plan effectively.
As the Stormers gear up to regain their spot at the top and keep their playoff dreams alive, all eyes will be on how they handle the big moments that have tripped them up recently. With their veterans back in action and some strategic tweaks, they just might rediscover their winning ways in time for the business end of the season.
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Once a captain, always a captain. Corné Krige, former leader of the Stormers and the Springboks, isn't shy about tossing his two cents into the ring. With the Stormers recently slipping to third in the URC standings after a couple of rough games against the Sharks, Krige is rallying the troops from the sidelines, confident that the Cape Town crew can turn their fortunes around as the playoffs loom. Adding a glimmer of hope, the squad has welcomed back key players, including loose forward Hacjivah Dayimani and the seasoned flank Deon Fourie, alongside backs Ruhan Nel, Dan du Plessis, and Seabelo Senatla.
For Krige, it's all about the noggin. "It’s amazing how confidence can take you a long way, and when you lose that confidence, how quickly things can go backwards," he noted, reflecting on the recent losses.
"It was a confidence thing against the Sharks. They could’ve won both those games even though the scores didn’t necessarily reflect that. They were in both those games into the last 15-20 minutes. It’s a mental thing, and if they get it right, they are very difficult to beat."
Despite their setbacks, Krige hasn't lost faith in the team's core strengths. "Their forwards are strong, they’ve got the basics right and they’ve got exciting backline players so I think they’re still in the mix. They must just get their heads right and another win will take them a long way," he asserted.
However, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows; the Stormers' set piece, typically a fortress of strength, showed cracks against the Sharks, particularly in the lineout. Injuries to key players like captain Salmaan Moerat and Ruben van Heerden didn't help matters. With a crucial match against the Lions at Ellis Park on the horizon, Krige is optimistic about improvements. "I think over the last three weeks, they really would’ve worked at getting their lineouts sorted, because if you lose a few in the first half, it counts against you. It becomes a confidence thing," he explained, emphasizing the importance of securing lineouts to execute their game plan effectively.
As the Stormers gear up to regain their spot at the top and keep their playoff dreams alive, all eyes will be on how they handle the big moments that have tripped them up recently. With their veterans back in action and some strategic tweaks, they just might rediscover their winning ways in time for the business end of the season.