Stormers rookie reveals how they aim to bounce back in URC quarter-final after ‘big wake-up call’ in Cardiff
Rookie Stormers scrum-half Imad Khan.
Rookie Stormers scrum-half Imad Khan is relishing the opportunity of playing in his first United Rugby Championship (URC) play-off, against Cardiff in Cape Town on Saturday.
Although Stormers director of rugby John Dobson has not announced his team yet, Khan is expected to be included in the matchday squad for the eagerly anticipated quarter-final.
This weekend’s encounter is a rematch of the teams’ previous match a fortnight ago which Cardiff won 22-16 and the men from the Cape will be determined to turn the tables on the visitors.
That defeat proved costly for the Stormers as it meant they dropped to third position in the URC standings ahead of the play-offs and Khan, who started in that clash against Cardiff, revealed that they are determined to turn the tables on their Welsh rivals on Saturday.
‘A big wake-up call for us’
“The game in Cardiff was a big wake-up call for us. That was our last league game, and we know in the play-offs there is no time for mistakes,” he said.
“You don’t often get an opportunity to play the same opposition back-to-back so we took a lot of learnings from the game in Cardiff that we can take into this game. We feel lucky to have the opportunity to set the record straight.”
The former South Africa U20 representative highlighted the areas of improvement which the Stormers have focused on since that loss in Cardiff.
“Our work around the breakdown is definitely one of the key points we’ve worked on over the last two weeks,” he explained. “Every game has those contact points that you need to dominate, so it starts at dominating collisions overall.
“The 4G surface (we played them on over there) has a different feel and brings a different element of the game, but we will definitely be looking to secure the ball and protect possession a lot better than we did in Cardiff.
“We have had chats around our attack too. Putting points on the board is important and that comes from scoreboard pressure. One of the points we work on is contact point.
“In play-off rugby every point matters, whether it is three, five or seven. We want to get as much on the board as possible.”
Keen to learn
At the age of 22, Khan is the most inexperienced scrum-half in the Stormers’ ranks but he revealed that he has learned a lot from being in the same environment as first choice Springboks number nine Cobus Reinach, – who is currently injured – Stefan Ungerer and Dewaldt Duvenage.
“Cobus is a world-class player so being alongside him in the changing room is insane,” said Khan.
“I try to grab stuff from all the players. Stef (Ungerer) is also a hugely experienced player, Dewies (Duvenage) is someone I have learned a lot from when it comes to the technical side of things.”
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Looking forward to the upcoming challenge against Cardiff, Khan revealed that playing in front of the Stormers faithful in a play-off clash will be the realisation of a dream.
“I have always dreamt of playing here at DHL Stadium and being on this field and playing for this club at a high level,” he added.
“So it may sound funny to say, but yes, while there is pressure, it is what I have been wanting to do all my life, so I’d say it’s more an excitement thing for me (than a pressure thing).
“I am taking the moment in rather than calling it pressure. It is so fun to be playing with your mates and throwing the ball around.
“Yes, of course there is pressure along with it, but I am just enjoying it and that takes the pressure off.”