Stormers got the wake-up call they needed against Sharks, says Juan de Jongh
FILE. Former Stormers and Springbok player Juan de Jongh believes the Stormers’ upset defeat to the Sharks could be beneficial, predicting a close rematch in Durban where the Stormers might edge out a victory. Picture: Malcolm Mackenzie/ProSports/Shutterstock/BackpagePix
Image: Malcolm Mackenzie/ProSports/Shutterstock/BackpagePix
Former Stormers and Springboks player Juan de Jongh says their upset defeat to the Sharks over the weekend might just be a good thing for the Cape outfit.
Coming into the clash, the Stormers had won eight from eight in the United Rugby Championship, and the Sharks were expected to be no match for the hosts at Cape Town Stadium.
The Sharks, though, led by new coach JP Pietersen, had their own ideas and eventually ran out 30-19 victors.
The Stormers won’t have to wait long for the chance to exact revenge either, as the teams go again on Saturday at Kings Park in Durban.
Sharks Face Tough Challenge Against Stormers, De Jongh Predicts Close Finish
It won’t be easy for the Sharks this time. They came with massive hunger to topple the top team. The Stormers will fix things like their lineouts and scrums,” De Jongh told SportsBoom.co.za.
“I think this match will be decided in the final five minutes, and because of the context, I believe the Stormers will edge it. They’ll be hungry.”
Though the defeat to the Sharks was not ideal, De Jongh said it wasn’t as big a surprise as it seemed.
“There were some massive match-ups, Springbok scrumhalves Cobus Reinach and Jaden Hendrikse going head-to-head, and flyhalves Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Jordan Hendrikse testing each other.”
“JP has done a great job since taking over. A lot of people were expecting a dominant Stormers performance, but he made a smart call by strengthening his bench with a ‘bomb squad’. That helped the Sharks take a slight lead into halftime,” he explained.
Though the Sharks have won just three from nine this season, De Jongh hinted they would likely make a move up the table in the coming weeks.
“You can see the fight in this rejuvenated Sharks side. People have been writing them off, and their position on the URC log hasn’t helped. The Stormers weren’t at their best, but credit to the Sharks, they won key battles.”