Forgotten Springboks winger keen to build on fast start at Stormers

New Stormers acquisition Courtnall Skosan is determined to build on his impressive start for the men from the Cape during their United Rugby Championship (URC) tour of Europe.

The former Northampton Saints and Lions flyer made his debut for the Cape Town-based outfit in their Round Two encounter against the Scarlets and had an immediate impact as he crossed for a try after coming on as a replacement in the 52-7 victory in Stellenbosch.

Valuable addition to the Stormers ranks

Skosan, who represented the Springboks in 12 Tests in 2017, was not in action in the Stormers’ next match against Glasgow Warriors but he has proved to be a valuable addition to head coach John Dobson’s squad as he brings plenty of experience to a young and exciting Stormers backline.

The 32-year-old finisher is blessed with plenty of pace and he is keen to add value at the Stormers, who are looking to return to winning ways after losing to the Warriors.

“Getting an opportunity to represent the jersey and the city of Cape Town was special,” he told the Stormers’ official website of his first outing. “The boys made it special for me, and I’m grateful for that.

“My game complements our backline and the way we approach the game. We think alike when it comes to how we see and want to play rugby. I’m enjoying that. And the crazy thing is that we are growing weekly. That’s always a good sign.”

Despite that defeat to the Warriors, Skosan hailed his team’s resilience in that encounter and believes they will bounce back in their next match against Benetton in Treviso on Saturday.

“Every game in this competition is a tough one, and especially playing opponents away from home,” he said. “We were just unfortunate with a few calls and opportunities we had in the second half.

“We will be better going forward. We know what we are able to do when we play our game.”

Skosan highlighted the importance of adapting to their surroundings while remaining focused on their European tour.

“Conditions are changing daily in Europe. The biggest focus for us this week is to focus on polishing our game and what we can control when we go onto the field,” he said.

“Benetton are a quality side and you have to respect that. We know where we want to go, and this weekend is the next step for us. Being at our best is the only thing on our mind.”

Facing unbeaten opponents

Their Italian opponents are one of only three unbeaten teams left in the URC after three rounds – along with table-toppers Connacht and defending champions Munster – and they’re on a high after clinching a narrow home win over the Lions.

“They are a very well-coached team,” added Skosan. “We have analysed their game and will make sure we cover all our bases.

“The most important thing for us is to focus on putting onto the field what we have worked on tirelessly for the last couple of months.

“We will give it our all to make sure we give ourselves the best opportunity to walk away with the desired result.”

READ MORE: Stormers confident they can bounce back on European tour without Springboks