CAPE TOWN – Ahead of their quarter-final against the Chiefs at Newlands on Friday, Stormers captain Siya Kolisi says their new mindset is the most important change they’ve made since they met the Kiwi side last year.
During the 2016 quarter-finals, the Stormers took a 60-21 whipping from Dave Rennie’s Chiefs, and now they will get a chance to erase that unpleasant memory (better than their win over the Chiefs in round seven could).
At the Stormers team announcement at Newlands on Thursday, the Springbok loose forward said that since last year’s playoffs, they’ve been coached to play what’s in front of them, and he believes that is what they will need to get right if they want to make it to the semi-finals.
“I think the mindset – that we can’t run into people the whole time and we can’t kick just because we’re under pressure – has changed. Now we’ve been coached to play proper rugby, to play what’s in front of you,” Kolisi said.
“If it’s open to play, doesn’t matter where you are on the field, have a go. And that’s what the teams who have been winning the competition lately get right.
“Whether they’re in their 22 or on their tryline or in your 22, they’ll run the ball. That’s what we need to get right on Saturday – we have to play what’s in front of us.
“We worked hard during the pre-season and our mindset changed, and I think that’s the most important thing. The coach didn’t want us to pre-plan (their play), whereas I think previously we knew every part of the field – as in ‘you must kick here, you must run here’.”
At the start of the Super Rugby competition, coach Robbie Fleck said that they had placed a greater emphasis on their physical conditioning and skills, and according to Kolisi, it’s a good thing they did as the skipper believes that the fittest team in the competition will win it.
“Now we play what’s ahead of us. We’ve trained hard to be fit, you have to be the fittest team to win this competition. Rugby has changed, there’s more ball-in-play, so we had to work on our conditioning,” he said.
Kolisi will pack down in a slightly different looking loose trio for the quarter-final, with Rynhardt Elstadt replacing Sikhumbuzo Notshe, who drops to the bench, in the run-on side.
On his selection, Fleck added that Elstadt offers “something different” to the loose trio.
“We’ve been selecting Rynhardt for the last couple of weeks and he had the injury and the suspension, but he would have been in the line-up regardless. He played very well against the Cheetahs, then he got suspended.
“He’s been training very well, and he brings something different to the loose trio and to the pack. We all know this is going to be a nice and physical game, so he’ll play his part in that.”
The only other change to the starting team sees SP Marais return to fullback, with Dillyn Leyds moving to left wing and Cheslin Kolbe at right wing.
Sevens speedster Seabelo Senatla – who produced a few exciting moments in his last few appearances – will provide cover on the bench.
Among the replacements, fit-again props Oli Kebble and Wilco Louw will make their return from injury.
Meanwhile, Fleck is concerned about the fitness of scrumhalf Jano Vermaak, who sat out Thurday’s training session with flu.
Fleck said that a decision regarding Vermaak’s fitness would be made on Friday. “Jano is struggling a bit so a call on him will be made (on Friday),” the coach said.
“Fortunately Dewaldt Duvenage has come through from his injury problems, so hopefully we will be able to add him to the mix if Jano has to withdraw.”
Fleck said that he will have to make a tough call at No 9 should Vermaak not be available, as he will have to choose between Dewaldt Duvenage – who hasn’t played since his stint with the SA ‘A’ side – and Justin Phillips, who has gained some game time off the bench, for the starting role.
“I don’t know what I will do there. I have to think about it. We do have Justin and he has done well for us, but we will wait to see what the medics say about Dewaldt,” he said.
Stormers Team
15 SP Marais, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Bench: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 Seabelo Senatla, 23 Juan de Jongh.
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