After their perfect season was tarnished by a loss to the Sharks, the Stormers, led by forwards coach Rito Hlungwani, are itching for a rematch in Durban this Saturday. The eight-match fairy tale ended in a 30-19 defeat that left fans and players alike hungry for redemption in what promises to be an explosive coastal derby sequel.
Hlungwani is viewing the quick turnaround as a silver lining. "It's a unique situation," he observed. "Instead of waiting three or four months, you get an opportunity straight away to deal with your mistakes and fix them." The coach also hinted at a boost for the team, with key players returning to the fold, though concerns linger over Salmaan Moerat's availability. "Salmaan didn't train today, and if you don't train on a Tuesday, you’re highly unlikely to play," he noted.
"Evan gives us power, a high work rate and go-forward. He’s someone we definitely missed and we’re hoping to have him back this week."
Hlungwani's relief was palpable as he discussed the likely return of Evan Roos, whose absence was felt in the previous match. Adre Smith's return to training also bodes well for the team.
Reflecting on last week's game, Hlungwani didn't mince words about the team's performance. "Before we even mention the opponents, our standards dropped," he admitted, pointing out self-inflicted errors like skew throws and poor lifts that the team aims to eliminate.
Springbok loose forward Ben-Jason Dixon, while acknowledging the setback, still sees a path to victory. "If you watch as a supporter, you might think we were well beaten, but we don’t feel we’re too far off," he stated confidently. Dixon pinpointed lineouts as a critical area for improvement, though he praised the team's overall work rate and defensive efforts.
Despite the potential challenges posed by Durban's humid weather and possible thundershowers, Hlungwani assured that the Stormers' game plan would remain unaffected. "Our game model can adapt to all types of conditions," he declared. "It’s not about changing things, it’s about executing our roles and chasing our standards."
This weekend, as the Stormers face the Sharks once more, all eyes will be on whether they can turn their newfound resolve into a victory on enemy turf.
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After their perfect season was tarnished by a loss to the Sharks, the Stormers, led by forwards coach Rito Hlungwani, are itching for a rematch in Durban this Saturday. The eight-match fairy tale ended in a 30-19 defeat that left fans and players alike hungry for redemption in what promises to be an explosive coastal derby sequel.
Hlungwani is viewing the quick turnaround as a silver lining. "It's a unique situation," he observed. "Instead of waiting three or four months, you get an opportunity straight away to deal with your mistakes and fix them." The coach also hinted at a boost for the team, with key players returning to the fold, though concerns linger over Salmaan Moerat's availability. "Salmaan didn't train today, and if you don't train on a Tuesday, you’re highly unlikely to play," he noted.
"Evan gives us power, a high work rate and go-forward. He’s someone we definitely missed and we’re hoping to have him back this week."
Hlungwani's relief was palpable as he discussed the likely return of Evan Roos, whose absence was felt in the previous match. Adre Smith's return to training also bodes well for the team.Reflecting on last week's game, Hlungwani didn't mince words about the team's performance. "Before we even mention the opponents, our standards dropped," he admitted, pointing out self-inflicted errors like skew throws and poor lifts that the team aims to eliminate.
Springbok loose forward Ben-Jason Dixon, while acknowledging the setback, still sees a path to victory. "If you watch as a supporter, you might think we were well beaten, but we don’t feel we’re too far off," he stated confidently. Dixon pinpointed lineouts as a critical area for improvement, though he praised the team's overall work rate and defensive efforts.
Despite the potential challenges posed by Durban's humid weather and possible thundershowers, Hlungwani assured that the Stormers' game plan would remain unaffected. "Our game model can adapt to all types of conditions," he declared. "It’s not about changing things, it’s about executing our roles and chasing our standards."
This weekend, as the Stormers face the Sharks once more, all eyes will be on whether they can turn their newfound resolve into a victory on enemy turf.