In a surprising twist to the Stormers' leadership saga, forwards coach Rito Hlungwani has opened up about the reasons behind Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's release from the captaincy reins, paving the way for lock JD Schickerling to take charge this weekend against the Lions at Ellis Park.
"One of the reasons was to free Sacha up a bit. It definitely takes away a bit of the pressure on Sacha," Hlungwani disclosed. The decision isn't a reflection on Feinberg-Mngomezulu's performance but rather a strategic move to distribute leadership responsibilities among the team. "We’ve also got a very strong leadership group and from time to time we rotate the captaincy," he added, highlighting the team's flexible leadership approach.
"The weight of leading this team is never just on the captain alone."
Despite the shift, Hlungwani assured that Feinberg-Mngomezulu is well supported on the field, with or without the captaincy title. "You never have the whole load of making all the calls on your own. There are good leaders around you," he noted, emphasizing the collective leadership model.
For Schickerling, stepping up as captain is a crowning moment in his career. "It’s definitely a very special and proud moment for me," he expressed, cherishing the opportunity to lead a team he's been part of since 2016, especially after his stint in Japan.
The Stormers' upcoming clash with the Lions is anticipated to be a tough one, especially with the Lions missing key players like Springbok tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye and flank Ruan Venter. However, Hlungwani is bracing for a robust contest. "It’s always tough playing against the Lions," he stated, prepared for the challenge regardless of the opposition's lineup.
With inclement weather on the horizon and the Ellis Park surface in less-than-ideal condition, the Stormers are not taking any chances. "We identified the rain early in the week. We’re used to the Cape Town winter and northern hemisphere conditions. It won’t catch us off guard," Hlungwani assured, ready to adapt to the conditions.
Schickerling echoed his coach's readiness, "They’re a good side wherever they play. You can’t switch off against them. We just have to focus on ourselves and how we execute our plan." With a strategic captaincy shuffle and weather preparations in check, the Stormers are set to face the Lions with a robust strategy and a united front.
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In a surprising twist to the Stormers' leadership saga, forwards coach Rito Hlungwani has opened up about the reasons behind Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's release from the captaincy reins, paving the way for lock JD Schickerling to take charge this weekend against the Lions at Ellis Park.
"One of the reasons was to free Sacha up a bit. It definitely takes away a bit of the pressure on Sacha," Hlungwani disclosed. The decision isn't a reflection on Feinberg-Mngomezulu's performance but rather a strategic move to distribute leadership responsibilities among the team. "We’ve also got a very strong leadership group and from time to time we rotate the captaincy," he added, highlighting the team's flexible leadership approach.
"The weight of leading this team is never just on the captain alone."
Despite the shift, Hlungwani assured that Feinberg-Mngomezulu is well supported on the field, with or without the captaincy title. "You never have the whole load of making all the calls on your own. There are good leaders around you," he noted, emphasizing the collective leadership model.
For Schickerling, stepping up as captain is a crowning moment in his career. "It’s definitely a very special and proud moment for me," he expressed, cherishing the opportunity to lead a team he's been part of since 2016, especially after his stint in Japan.
The Stormers' upcoming clash with the Lions is anticipated to be a tough one, especially with the Lions missing key players like Springbok tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye and flank Ruan Venter. However, Hlungwani is bracing for a robust contest. "It’s always tough playing against the Lions," he stated, prepared for the challenge regardless of the opposition's lineup.
With inclement weather on the horizon and the Ellis Park surface in less-than-ideal condition, the Stormers are not taking any chances. "We identified the rain early in the week. We’re used to the Cape Town winter and northern hemisphere conditions. It won’t catch us off guard," Hlungwani assured, ready to adapt to the conditions.
Schickerling echoed his coach's readiness, "They’re a good side wherever they play. You can’t switch off against them. We just have to focus on ourselves and how we execute our plan." With a strategic captaincy shuffle and weather preparations in check, the Stormers are set to face the Lions with a robust strategy and a united front.