The DHL Stormers are only concerned about fine-tuning their engines in the final-round clash with the Lions and won’t be paying too much attention to playoff permutations.
Having already secured their place in the Vodacom URC’s top eight, the DHL Stormers will host the Lions in the final round of the regular season in Cape Town.
The Stormers will be facing the challenge of an away quarter-final, but still don’t know who their opponents will be, with the top four still to be sorted.
However, backline coach Dawie Snyman said that the Stormers will not be concerned about who they could draw in the playoffs, when they take on the Lions on Saturday afternoon.
“We want to win the game. At this stage, we haven’t spoken much about the log or where we want to go in a quarter-final,” Snyman said.
“It’s been about the small moments and areas of our game that we really want to focus on.
“Playoffs are playoffs. That sort of ship has sailed weeks ago, where we could’ve determined where we wanted to go. Now we have to take what we get.”
The major changes to the Stormers lineup to face the Lions come in the backline, as Warrick Gelant has joined Damian Willemse on the sidelines.
As a result, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will start at fullback, while Wandisile Simelane resumes his midfield partnership with Dan du Plessis.
“We probably could push Warrick to play this weekend, although he isn’t 100%,” Snyman said.
“He got a knock during the back end of the game against Connacht. He will be fine to play in the playoffs next weekend.
“It’s also an opportunity for Sacha to get more game time, which is exciting for him.”
It will be Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s first start at fullback, as he has predominantly played at inside centre for the Stormers.
However, Snyman explained that the Stormers have been preparing the 22-year-old playmaker for the responsibilities of the No 15 jersey, as they look to cover themselves in case of another injury.
“That is the thinking. If we get a knock in that position, then we know that Sacha can cover there.,” Snyman said.
“In the last two games, against Connacht and Dragons, he came off the bench and played fullback. It’s an area we have prepped him to play.
“He’s done his work and is prepared to play there for us. We are excited about him there. It’s a position he can play well, especially because our flyhalves and fullbacks are similar in how we set up on defence and attack. So it’s not too different from what he knows.”
Meanwhile, Simelane will make his fourth start of the season alongside Du Plessis, a midfield partnership that has looked promising for the Stormers.
“Every single game and every training session, he is improving. We are excited to see him get another start,” Snyman said.
“The more time he has spent with us, he has got better, because we play quite a natural brand of rugby and feed off each other. That time in games and understanding the defensive system has been good for him. We are happy with where he is at the moment.”
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
