Stormers coach highlights how they aim to retain unbeaten status in ‘very brutal game’ against Harlequins
Stormers players celebrate a victory while their forwards coach Rito Hlungwani looks on (inset).
Despite Harlequins’ recent struggles in PREM Rugby, the Stormers are preparing for a tough assignment when the sides meet in their Investec Champions Cup encounter on Sunday.
That is the word from the Cape Town-based outfit’s forwards coach Rito Hlungwani who said his team are not underestimating their hosts ahead of the eagerly anticipated clash at Twickenham Stoop.
This past weekend, Harlequins suffered a humiliating 66-21 PREM Rugby defeat at Northampton Saints.
That was Quins’ fourth successive loss in that tournament, and the result leaves them languishing in eighth position in the standings, one point clear of their closest rivals Gloucester.
Stormers on a 10-match winning streak
By contrast, the Stormers are on a 10-match winning streak in all competitions and are sitting pretty atop the United Rugby Championship (URC) table as well as Pool Three of the Investec Champions Cup.
The men from the Cape are in joint top spot in the Champions Cup with Irish heavyweights Leinster and have amassed nine points after two matches played, while Harlequins occupy third position in the pool just three points adrift.
The Stormers clinched a hard-fought 13-8 victory over their arch-rivals the Bulls at the weekend.
That bruising encounter was played in sunny conditions in Cape Town and their clash with Quins is set to take place in much colder weather in London.
The freezing conditions will dictate how the Stormers approach this game and should see them opting for a conservative game plan in which play is restricted mostly with the forwards before their half-backs will try to dictate proceedings with accurate kicking out of hand.
The Stormers are expected to leave some of their frontline players in Cape Town but although Hlungwani expects a tough battle from Quins, the Stormers will not deviate much from their preparations which has stood them in good stead so far this season.
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“Business carries on as usual,” he said. “This is a massive game that awaits us in London, and we want to ensure we are ready. We will be ready come Sunday.
“We have a tough two-week block we need to get through, so everyone who does not have an injury will be training and getting ready for the two matches coming up.
‘We expect a very brutal game’
“Harlequins are having a tough challenge in the Premiership, but I am sure they will really focus on the Champions Cup. We expect a very brutal game and they are quite difficult to play at the Stoop.
“It is going to be a fight in the scrums and mauls, especially from a forwards’ perspective, to get the upper hand.”
Although the Stormers are preparing for a tough clash and are expected to make changes to their squad, Hllungwani believes the cohesion from training together will help the side to deliver a competitive performance, while he also highlighted the importance of facing the Bulls ahead of their clash with Quins.
“We challenge each other each week on getting better and we set high standards,” he explained.
“So, I was really proud of the effort against the Bulls, although there were errors. But there was not a shortage of fight.
“They adapted to what was in front of them because there was no time for me to help. We faced a strong and physical pack, and I thought we did really well.
“We are going to Harlequins to compete and won’t be taking the next game lightly. In a perfect world, we will come out with a win.”
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