The DHL Stormers must get ready for a no-holds-barred onslaught from an injury-ravaged Connacht side when the two teams tackle each other in a must-win United Rugby Championship clash on Saturday at DHL Stadium.
According to Connacht scrum and interim head coach Cullie Tucker, the Irish visitors won’t be taking a pragmatic approach against the Cape side, who are known for also playing an exciting ball-in-hand game.
Both teams enter the clash desperate for a win and trying to clinch a top-eight spot that will see them qualify for the URC quarterfinals.
The Stormers are currently in 10 th position in the standings on 35 points, with Connacht three places below them on 33 points.
Walking Wounded
But the Irish club did arrive in Cape Town on a bit of a low note after a 43-40 loss to Racing 92 in a European Challenge Cup quarterfinal that saw head coach Pete Wilkins shockingly hand in his resignation this week. Connacht also lost star backline players Bundee Aki (heel) and winger Mack Hansen (ankle) to injury.
First-choice scrumhalf Coalin Blade (ankle) also stayed behind in Galway while flyhalf Josh Ioane (hand), flankers Shamus Hurley-Langton (wrist) and Finn Treacy and prop Denis Buckley (quad) are also unavailable to face the Stormers.
Rookies Time To Shine
However, Tucker reckons this is a perfect opportunity for youngsters within the Connacht touring party to make a name for themselves against the Stormers and their second tour game against the Emirates Lions next week.
They (rookies) have been chomping at the bit behind the scenes, training very well and helping us prepare for the last game [against Racing]. Now they are in the touring party and in line for some game time over the next couple of weeks.
The quality of player that we know they are and the quality of their character, we know they will be able to deliver for us on Saturday and I am looking forward to seeing them play over here.
Fighting Fire with Fire
Tuckers says they know they are coming up against a Stormers team with a lot of X-factor players where the Cape side’s forwards and backs have the ability to put teams away with a brilliant offload game.
He also anticipates a tough challenge at scrum time with the likes of Springboks Joseph Dweba, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat, Deon Fourie and Evan Roos expected to start upfront.
But of stepping up to the challenge and taking the Stormers head on, Tucker adds:
They have brilliant individual players, you know, their offloading game is very impressive, very very strong set-piece, very very strong scrum and very very cohesive and attack-minded.
[However] I think the way we started last week [against Racing] showed we don’t need any licence to be able to cut loose, you know. We like to play up-tempo we like to play on top of teams and we certainly won’t be waiting for the last 10 minutes. That has been indicative of the way we have played this season.
We wanna play high ball in play time, we like to keep the ball, and I think that is the best way to stress teams.
Key Battle
Meanwhile, Tucker also feels if they can put pressure on the Stormers at the breakdown, Connacht could take the game away from the Cape side.
For that to happen, Tucker knows Connacht will need to step up physically and says:
The contact side on both sides of the ball will be key to the game. We are in the land of physicality now and it is also something we need to bar up, and be ready for. They have been strong around the sides of the ruck so we have to be really accurate and really physical there.
