Given that this is likely to be the Stormers’ last weekend of competitive rugby for the year, with action set to resume in January, there should be no lack of motivation going into the clash.
WHILE the Stormers are disappointed that they won’t be going up against international opposition on home soil, there is no reason to believe they won’t go all out in their local derby against the Lions on Saturday.
The Stormers will host the Lions at Cape Town Stadium after the South African teams’ games against Zebre, Munster, Cardiff and Scarlets, scheduled for Rounds Six and Seven, were postponed due to cases of the Omicron variant in the country, leading to teams rushing out of South Africa.
Given that this is likely to be the sides’ last weekend of competitive rugby for the year, with action set to resume in January, there should be no lack of motivation going into the clash.
The fact that the two teams last met in May should only add to that.
During a press conference earlier this week, Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman said they are grateful to get back to action this weekend.
“We’re disappointed, not frustrated, but it’s not anyone’s fault. It’s just a bit sad we couldn’t play on SA soil,” he said about last weekend’s postponed match against Zebre.
“It is of great importance to us that we get to play this week. Our business is to play, but it is the times we live in … we can’t control things and it is a changing environment. We are grateful that we will be able to be on the pitch on Saturday.”
With the curtain having come down on the international calendar after a jam-packed 2021 season, the Stormers are spoilt for choice. They aren’t, however, going to be calling on all their Boks – which is to be expected given the workload the guys have had this year.
The likes of Steven Kitshoff and Herschel Jantjies will get a much-needed breather, this match will also present an opportunity for those who didn’t get much game time during their time with the Springboks.
Salmaan Moerat and Marvin Orie are two of those guys – with Moerat having been sidelined for most of the season prior to recovering from a neck injury and joining the Boks, while Orie last played against Australia in the 30-17 defeat in Brisbane.
So, while the players might have been disappointed by missing out on facing some foreign teams, it seems like they have more than enough reason to go into this fixture with just as much excitement.
