After a stinging six-try concession in their 38-38 draw with Ulster, the Stormers have pledged to tighten their ranks and stage a comeback against Cardiff at the Arms Park this coming Friday. The post-match review did not mince words, with Defence Coach Norman Laker labeling the session as "quite brutal" and revealing some hard truths about their performance that cost them the top spot on the Vodacom URC log to Glasgow Warriors.
Laker expressed disappointment in the team's execution, saying, "Friday wasn’t our best. We let ourselves down, did stuff we don’t normally do, and didn’t do stuff that we trained." Despite the team's strong offensive display, their defensive lapses were a significant concern, especially after letting through six tries.
"You know me, I’m all about tries for and tries against. The tries against were a bit too much, so for me there weren’t a lot of positives,"
Laker admitted.
The match also highlighted some tactical curiosities, including the Stormers not having a single scrum put-in, which usually serves as one of their strategic strengths. Hooker André-Hugo Venter pointed out the team’s need for better discipline and decision-making, which led to several shifts in momentum. "Those mostly came from our mistakes. If we don’t create momentum swings for other teams, we should be well off," Venter explained.
Moreover, the Stormers felt the pinch when Ulster effectively neutralized their maul, despite their flawless lineout performance. Venter acknowledged this setback, stating, "That took a bit of punch out of our game. It’s something we’ll definitely look to fix this weekend."
Looking ahead to their clash with Cardiff, who are still vying for a playoff spot, Laker noted the similarities between Cardiff and Ulster. "They’re a ball-in-hand team, very similar to Ulster. There are a few South Africans playing for them as well. [Scrumhalf] Johan Mulder used to play at the Lions. They’re a well-coached team," he remarked.
Venter, on the other hand, is not letting the team's guaranteed home quarter-final berth dampen their ambition. He insists on securing a top-two finish to maximize their home advantage in the later stages of the tournament.
"Our desperation will be just as high as theirs."
With stakes mounting, the upcoming game promises to be a crucial one for both teams.
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After a stinging six-try concession in their 38-38 draw with Ulster, the Stormers have pledged to tighten their ranks and stage a comeback against Cardiff at the Arms Park this coming Friday. The post-match review did not mince words, with Defence Coach Norman Laker labeling the session as "quite brutal" and revealing some hard truths about their performance that cost them the top spot on the Vodacom URC log to Glasgow Warriors.
Laker expressed disappointment in the team's execution, saying, "Friday wasn’t our best. We let ourselves down, did stuff we don’t normally do, and didn’t do stuff that we trained." Despite the team's strong offensive display, their defensive lapses were a significant concern, especially after letting through six tries.
"You know me, I’m all about tries for and tries against. The tries against were a bit too much, so for me there weren’t a lot of positives,"
Laker admitted.The match also highlighted some tactical curiosities, including the Stormers not having a single scrum put-in, which usually serves as one of their strategic strengths. Hooker André-Hugo Venter pointed out the team’s need for better discipline and decision-making, which led to several shifts in momentum. "Those mostly came from our mistakes. If we don’t create momentum swings for other teams, we should be well off," Venter explained.
Moreover, the Stormers felt the pinch when Ulster effectively neutralized their maul, despite their flawless lineout performance. Venter acknowledged this setback, stating, "That took a bit of punch out of our game. It’s something we’ll definitely look to fix this weekend."
Looking ahead to their clash with Cardiff, who are still vying for a playoff spot, Laker noted the similarities between Cardiff and Ulster. "They’re a ball-in-hand team, very similar to Ulster. There are a few South Africans playing for them as well. [Scrumhalf] Johan Mulder used to play at the Lions. They’re a well-coached team," he remarked.
Venter, on the other hand, is not letting the team's guaranteed home quarter-final berth dampen their ambition. He insists on securing a top-two finish to maximize their home advantage in the later stages of the tournament.
"Our desperation will be just as high as theirs."
With stakes mounting, the upcoming game promises to be a crucial one for both teams.