STORMERS DRAW ‘CONFIDENCE’ FROM CHAMPIONS CUP FORM AS THEY PUSH FOR HOME URC PLAY-OFF

With the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship (URC) season heading towards its business end, the Stormers have set their sights on clinching a top-four finish on the table and, in doing so, secure a home quarter-final.

There are five rounds of matches left in the league phase of the competition, and men from the Cape are hosting the Ospreys on Saturday in the first of three home games ahead of the play-offs.

Apart from that clash with the Welsh region, John Dobson’s charges are also hosting table-toppers Leinster the following weekend, before heading on a two-match tour to Wales and Ireland where they will face the Dragons and Connacht, but will be back in Cape Town for their last league match against the Lions on June 1.

Eager to capitalise on home ground advantage

Stormers scrum-half Paul de Wet is eager to help his team make the most of home ground advantage over the next two weeks.

“The upcoming home games against Ospreys and Leinster are crucial for us,” he told the Stormers’ official website. “To secure maximum points from both matches, we need to focus on executing our game plan with precision. This means maintaining discipline, capitalising on scoring opportunities, and staying mentally sharp.

“Playing in front of our home crowd gives us an extra boost, and we’re determined to make the most of it.

“We’ll be aiming to deliver strong performances and be in the form we need to go into the play-offs.”

The Stormers have enjoyed the last week off after bowing out in their Champions Cup round-of-16 match against La Rochelle in Cape Town.

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That defeat follows back-to-back victories in the URC against Edinburgh and Ulster and De Wet said the Cape Town-based outfit are keen to bounce back when they return to action against the Ospreys.

“The week off has been crucial for recovery and preparation,” he revealed. “Following the physical encounter against Stade Rochelais, the break couldn’t have come at a better time.

“It’s allowed us to recharge our batteries and focus on the upcoming challenges in the Vodacom URC.”

Despite finishing on the losing side to La Rochelle, the 28-year-old believes the Stormers will draw a lot of confidence from their Champions Cup campaign, and he hopes it will stand them in good stead in their remaining URC matches.

‘Encouraging to see efforts paying off’

“We showcased our attacking ability against Stade Rochelais,” De Wet said. “It’s a testament to the hard work we’ve been putting in on the training ground, and it’s encouraging to see our efforts paying off on the field.

“Despite our Investec Champions Cup campaign ending in the Round of 16, we draw a lot of confidence from our performances. Beating the defending champions in the pool stage and pushing them close in the play-offs demonstrates the quality and potential of our squad.

“It’s something we can build on moving forward.”

2024-04-18T15:07:10Z dg43tfdfdgfd