STORMERS skipper Jean de Villiers has challenged his team to win its remaining matches of the current Super Rugby campaign to ensure a place in the playoffs.
The call came after the Stormers beat the Sharks 22-15 at Newlands on Satur day to record only their third win in seven matches this season.
It was a must-win game for the Cape side, who topped the overall and SA con ference standings in 2012 and the SA conference in 2011 before losing semi finals in both years, and they delivered a result under pressure.
“We have a goal of reaching 60 points on the standings – that’s always where you want to get to,” De Villiers said.
“It’s been a tough season for us so far, but we’re on 24 points if you take into account the four points we’ll get for the bye, which puts us on track.
“There are nine games remaining and 36 points on offer if we win all of them without bonus points, which takes us to 60 points. That’s what we’re striving for and although it’s much easier said than done we believe we’re on track again.”
The Stormers have a bye this weekend and depart for Australasia for their four- match tour next weekend. By touring standards they have a relatively comfort able schedule where they play the Hurricanes, Blues, Waratahs and Rebels.
The Blues currently occupy sixth place on the standings, the Hurricanes eighth, the Waratahs 10th and the Rebels 14th. The Stormers sit in 11th position but their three wins have come against the Chiefs (sec ond), Brumbies (first) and Sharks (third) on the standings. “The bye comes at a nice time for us especially if you look at the injury list we have,” De Villiers said.
“It gives us an extra week to get some players back into the mix for the tour and if you take the 22 players that did duty against the Sharks and add the likes of (hooker) Scarra Ntub eni, Eben Etzebeth(lock), Rynhardt Elstadt(flank), Elton Jantjies (flyhalf), Bryan Habana (wing) and Gerhard van Heever (wing) you suddenly have depth.
“We’re confident that whoever is selec ted will play a part and they will have to take a chance when their opportunity arises.”
Sharks coach John Plumtree was dis appointed with the performance but even more concerned about the short week he has to prepare the team for next week’s clash against the Cheetahs in Durban.
In all 12 Sharks players will be includ ed in a Springbok training camp that started yesterday and continues until tomorrowTuesday evening, leaving Plumtree with only two sessions to work with his full squad before the Cheetahs game.
To compound the problems, wing JP Pieter sen is likely to miss the clash after sustaining with an ankle ankle injury. The Bok wing is an integral part of the Sharks’ gameplan and losing him would be massive blow. “I’m very worried about JP’s ankle because we need him,” Plumtree said. “The Bok camp’s timing is not ideal, but the camp was put in place and we’ve got to deal with it. It will be a tough week for us and for the guys involved because they will have it in the back of their minds what they need to do against the Cheetahs next week.”
Stormers set 60-point target
The call came after the Stormers beat the Sharks 22-15 at Newlands on Satur day to record only their third win in seven matches this season.
It was a must-win game for the Cape side, who topped the overall and SA con ference standings in 2012 and the SA conference in 2011 before losing semi finals in both years, and they delivered a result under pressure.
“We have a goal of reaching 60 points on the standings – that’s always where you want to get to,” De Villiers said.
“It’s been a tough season for us so far, but we’re on 24 points if you take into account the four points we’ll get for the bye, which puts us on track.
“There are nine games remaining and 36 points on offer if we win all of them without bonus points, which takes us to 60 points. That’s what we’re striving for and although it’s much easier said than done we believe we’re on track again.”
The Stormers have a bye this weekend and depart for Australasia for their four- match tour next weekend. By touring standards they have a relatively comfort able schedule where they play the Hurricanes, Blues, Waratahs and Rebels.
The Blues currently occupy sixth place on the standings, the Hurricanes eighth, the Waratahs 10th and the Rebels 14th. The Stormers sit in 11th position but their three wins have come against the Chiefs (sec ond), Brumbies (first) and Sharks (third) on the standings. “The bye comes at a nice time for us especially if you look at the injury list we have,” De Villiers said.
“It gives us an extra week to get some players back into the mix for the tour and if you take the 22 players that did duty against the Sharks and add the likes of (hooker) Scarra Ntub eni, Eben Etzebeth(lock), Rynhardt Elstadt(flank), Elton Jantjies (flyhalf), Bryan Habana (wing) and Gerhard van Heever (wing) you suddenly have depth.
“We’re confident that whoever is selec ted will play a part and they will have to take a chance when their opportunity arises.”
Sharks coach John Plumtree was dis appointed with the performance but even more concerned about the short week he has to prepare the team for next week’s clash against the Cheetahs in Durban.
In all 12 Sharks players will be includ ed in a Springbok training camp that started yesterday and continues until tomorrowTuesday evening, leaving Plumtree with only two sessions to work with his full squad before the Cheetahs game.
To compound the problems, wing JP Pieter sen is likely to miss the clash after sustaining with an ankle ankle injury. The Bok wing is an integral part of the Sharks’ gameplan and losing him would be massive blow. “I’m very worried about JP’s ankle because we need him,” Plumtree said. “The Bok camp’s timing is not ideal, but the camp was put in place and we’ve got to deal with it. It will be a tough week for us and for the guys involved because they will have it in the back of their minds what they need to do against the Cheetahs next week.”
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