No place like home for DHL Stormers
After picking up a crucial win on the road last week, the DHL Stormers are hoping to make the most of the home support at DHL Newlands against the Cell C Sharks on Saturday.
The tough 20-10 victory over the Toyota Cheetahs in Round Two was the DHL Stormers’ first win in Bloemfontein since 2012, and they are determined to build on that performance when they face a competitive Cell C Sharks outfit that has also started the season with two wins.
DHL Stormers coach Robbie Fleck said that his team is fully focused on putting in a worthy performance in front of their faithful fans in the big coastal derby.
“Right now our focus has to be on the Sharks outfit, we are playing at home and they are going to be a good challenge so I think it will be a good match on the weekend,” he said.
Fleck said that the Durban side should prove a good test for his team as they have raised their game defensively, and will provide the usual physical challenge up front.
“I think they are a much-improved side, certainly defensively they are a much better outfit. They are looking well organised and well drilled in that regard.
“They have got a strong scrum, they have got a strong maul and they are looking to back themselves a bit more,” he said.
The DHL Stormers will be without the services of flyhalf Rob du Preez who injured his knee against the Toyota Cheetahs and will be sidelined for 12 weeks.
“Rob suffered a Grade Two to Three MCL (Medial Cruciate Ligament) and partial PCL in the knee, he doesn’t require surgery and it looks like he will be out for up to 12 weeks.
“He should be fit and ready to go beyond the June Test break. At least it doesn’t require surgery and at least he still has a chance of coming back towards the end of the campaign,” said Fleck.
Fleck said that he was pleased with the way Kurt Coleman performed when he replaced Du Preez, and added that youngsters Brandon Thomson and Jean-Luc du Plessis will now come into the selection frame.
“I was very happy with Kurt, he had just got on and had a tough penalty to slot over, and credit to him he showed a lot of guts.
“I am happy for Kurt, he played really well, he hasn’t played a lot of rugby this season but he showed some neat touches.
“We have got two good young players in Brandon Thomson and Jean-Luc du Plessis so we will be looking to introducing them to the set-up. They have both done the whole pre-season with us so it is an exciting opportunity for them,” he said.
Make sure you book your tickets early for the DHL Stormers’ coastal clash with the Cell C Sharks at DHL Newlands on Saturday, March 12.
Tickets can be booked through Computicket or the iamastormer.com website, with stadium box office sales opening on Tuesday, March 8.
After consultation with City of Cape Town Health Officials and in line with legislation, no smoking of any kind will be allowed in the stadium which has been declared a non-smoking facility.
Previously the stadium featured four designated smoking areas in the corners of the ground, with smoking in the stands prohibited, but this is no longer allowed and all forms of smoking (including e-cigarettes) in any part of the stadium now in contravention of the stadium rules.
