Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani is adamant there's substantial ground to cover in improving team performance, despite a recent victory against the Bulls. With a critical match looming against the Dragons, the team is fiercely focused on honing their skills further.
After snapping a three-game losing streak with a solid 32-19 triumph over the Bulls, the Stormers have clawed their way back to a commendable second place in the Vodacom URC standings. However, Hlungwani believes resting on their laurels isn't an option. "Improvement is the big thing for us," he stated, emphasizing the necessity of continuous advancement to clinch the competition.
"Our scrum was good, but technically [scrum coach] Brok [Harris] is still challenging the boys to improve."
The Stormers are tweaking their lineup to optimize performance and recovery, welcoming back several key players. Vernon Matongo and JJ Kotzé are adjusting to starting roles while maintaining team cohesion. Neethling Fouché continues after a brief hiatus, and Evan Roos returns to inject energy into the lineup. Marcel Theunissen, following a strong showing against the Bulls, and Ben-Jason Dixon, now shifting to a strategic bench role, round out the forward adjustments.
Deon Fourie's return from a lengthy injury is a particular highlight, with Hlungwani noting, "It will be important from our point of view to keep him going. He had a good start last week. We planned for 30 minutes and he made it to 35. Let's see how far we can push him."
In the backline, the Stormers are equally strategic. Dan du Plessis makes a comeback at centre, and Damian Willemse slides into the fullback position, bringing versatility and comfort to the field. The experienced winger Seabelo Senatla also returns, ready to leverage his deep understanding of the game.
While the team is eyeing future challenges, including the Investec Champions Cup and URC playoffs, Hlungwani underscores the importance of not underestimating the 14th-placed Dragons. "We’re not looking at certain games and thinking we can go easy," he affirmed. "Every single week we want to challenge ourselves. If we get the small things right, we believe the result will take care of itself."
The Stormers' tactical approach and roster rotations highlight their commitment to peak performance as critical matches approach, signaling that every game counts in their pursuit of rugby excellence.
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Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani is adamant there's substantial ground to cover in improving team performance, despite a recent victory against the Bulls. With a critical match looming against the Dragons, the team is fiercely focused on honing their skills further.
After snapping a three-game losing streak with a solid 32-19 triumph over the Bulls, the Stormers have clawed their way back to a commendable second place in the Vodacom URC standings. However, Hlungwani believes resting on their laurels isn't an option. "Improvement is the big thing for us," he stated, emphasizing the necessity of continuous advancement to clinch the competition.
"Our scrum was good, but technically [scrum coach] Brok [Harris] is still challenging the boys to improve."
The Stormers are tweaking their lineup to optimize performance and recovery, welcoming back several key players. Vernon Matongo and JJ Kotzé are adjusting to starting roles while maintaining team cohesion. Neethling Fouché continues after a brief hiatus, and Evan Roos returns to inject energy into the lineup. Marcel Theunissen, following a strong showing against the Bulls, and Ben-Jason Dixon, now shifting to a strategic bench role, round out the forward adjustments.
Deon Fourie's return from a lengthy injury is a particular highlight, with Hlungwani noting, "It will be important from our point of view to keep him going. He had a good start last week. We planned for 30 minutes and he made it to 35. Let's see how far we can push him."
In the backline, the Stormers are equally strategic. Dan du Plessis makes a comeback at centre, and Damian Willemse slides into the fullback position, bringing versatility and comfort to the field. The experienced winger Seabelo Senatla also returns, ready to leverage his deep understanding of the game.
While the team is eyeing future challenges, including the Investec Champions Cup and URC playoffs, Hlungwani underscores the importance of not underestimating the 14th-placed Dragons. "We’re not looking at certain games and thinking we can go easy," he affirmed. "Every single week we want to challenge ourselves. If we get the small things right, we believe the result will take care of itself."
The Stormers' tactical approach and roster rotations highlight their commitment to peak performance as critical matches approach, signaling that every game counts in their pursuit of rugby excellence.