Seabelo Senatla runs with the ball during a Stormers' training session this week, ahead of this weekend's URC match against the Lions. Picture: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The Stormers are fired up and ready to get on the field to take on the Lions in their rescheduled United Rugby Championship clash to be played at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
After the round six and seven fixtures against UK and EU based opposition was postponed due to the new Covid variant discovered in the country, it was announced on Monday that the local sides would face one round of fixtures against each other this weekend.
Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman admitted that it was a blow not to play over the past weekend, but the team were excited for the coming weekend’s match.
“It was quite a big disappointment to find out we wouldn’t be playing (last weekend), we were prepared to play Zebre and had everything mapped out, so with that game not happening it put us a week back,” explained Snyman.
“So this game is very important and the opportunity to play this weekend is great for us, we are match ready and we want to get on the field and play.”
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The Stormers have played the Lions on a number of occasions over the past year and a half with local derbies the name of the game with the two Currie Cup competitions and the Rainbow Cup seeing the sides matched up.
Despite the sides knowing each other fairly well Snyman is preparing for something different this time round from the Lions after some coaching changes in their ranks. The main focus however is still on themselves and making sure they execute their game-plan.
“The Lions have had a bit of a change in their coaching staff, you have Jaque Fourie doing their defence now, so it’s a little bit different from my perspective preparing for them and they have also had a few adjustments that we have picked up since we last played them,” said Snyman.
“It is a different opposition to the overseas teams but we are really focussing more on ourselves and where we are. Obviously we will have to take into account what their strengths are and what they will present on the day.
“But 90% of our prep will be on how we can be a better team and play better.”