Stormers braced for impact
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee knows that his table-topping team are in for a fierce examination in the next fortnight, but he is backing the depth in his squad to boost their chances.
The Stormers ground out another win over the Waratahs at Newlands on Saturday to move to the top of the Super Rugby standings, but away matches against South African rivals the Sharks and the Bulls in the next two weeks loom as the ultimate test of their winning momentum.
Not only are these matches likely to heavily influence the Stormers' prospects of playing play-off rugby at home, but the injury toll against the two brutally physical teams could thin the numbers of available players in Cape Town even further.
Coetzee knows exactly what to expect after narrowly edging both sides out at Newlands earlier this season, and he acknowledged the need to manage his players carefully at a crucial period in their campaign.
He said: "We all know derby games are very tough and physical, so we have got to prepare for that.
"Definitely the key thing is recovery for next week , because it will be yet another physical battle. We experienced this on tour, whether we have to cut down on training sessions or just have shorter sessions with intensity so we can get a fresh 22 out there against a top quality side like the Sharks.
"They have proven it again against the Cheetahs, they got five points so I have got to make sure that we have 22 fresh bodies out there next week, it is going to be a typical South African derby and a tough one," added Coetzee.
The Stormers coach said that although there may be further casualties along the way, he has confidence in his team's ability to adapt and pointed to the victorious Western Province Vodacom Cup team as proof that his squad can sustain their challenge throughout the competition.
"Ten wins from eleven games, a Vodacom Cup team that is successful winning the Vodacom Cup for the first time, so it says a lot about the structures here in Western Province, it says a lot about moving forward as a franchise and as a union and one mustn't underestimate the depth that we have created and the players who really can come up to Super Fifteen level and perform well.
"Your Vodacom Cup side is the best team in the country when it comes to second-tier players is good and augers well for the province. I am pleased with the way that we adapt every week, when you have a setback or an injury there is a lot of detail that go into it and the guys sort of latch onto it and form a plan and they all buy into the plan," he explained.
Coetzee said that he was pleased with the endeavour his side showed in the first half against the Waratahs, and said that while they were hampered by wet weather after half-time, they are still focused on developing their attacking game.
"This is the nature of the competition, you have got to make sure you grind out your wins, and when there quite nice conditiions in the first half - nice and dry, we had quite a good crack and there has been a big improvement in our attack, and I was really pleased with what I saw.
"It is important that we keep the winning momentum, but it is also important to note that we would really like to score four tries, we would really like to attack more if there are proper conditions," he said.
The Stormers boss highlighted the contribution of the young players in his team, and expressed confidence in the depth at his disposal.
"Eben [Etzebeth] was outstanding, but not just him, a guy like [Steven] Kitshoff has been playing 80 minutes throughout the competition and the youngster is really doing well. Again Frans Malherbe made an impact coming off the bench and this is how you are going to do well in the competition - by utilising your 22 and your 30-man squad.
"With the confidence that is in the rest of the group and the Vodacom Cup squad at the moment I am not scared to draw from those players," he said.
By Michael de Vries