Stormers lock Ruben van Heerden believes they can still do something special in the United Rugby Championship (URC), despite their struggles this season and Loftus Versfeld could be the ideal venue to mount a fightback.
After winning only four out of their 11 matches so far and with seven league games remaining, the Cape side’s competition is on the verge of collapse if they can’t pick up wins over the next few games. Van Heerden, though, believes their recovery could start this weekend in Pretoria when they face the Bulls in the second North vs South derby.
In Cape Town a couple of weeks ago, the visitors pipped their hosts by one point in a 33-32 thriller to take the spoils. On Saturday, more fireworks are expected between the arch-rivals and the Stormers will be desperate for maximum points to keep their playoff hopes alive. But, that is easier said than done with the Bulls currently the form South African team.
“We’ve still have seven matches left and there is time to do something special, but it has to start this weekend,” Van Heerden said.
“We owe it to each other to pull together and play to our potential. I think we’ve disappointed each other this season a bit in certain areas. We are a good team, but we haven’t shown that consistently.
“So, there can be no time wasting. We can’t afford to make those silly errors and not be clinical. The motivation is for each other and our supporters. They deserve better and we deserve better.”
According to Van Heerden, you don’t have to look too far to be motivated when playing in a North-South match.
“If you can’t find the motivation for a match like this, you are in the wrong industry.
The Stormers currently occupy 10th place on the overall URC log but are only three points off a playoff place. Having lost their last three matches in the tournament, one of them against Saturday’s opponents, they need some momentum to push for a spot amongst the top eight.
A win could see them climb up the log, depending on other results going their way.
‘Only an 80-minute performance will be good enough’
The towering lock, who will be tasked to run the Cape side’s lineout, says only an 80-minute performance will be good enough. “We have to come out firing. We can’t go to sleep for one minute. It can’t be a 40- or 60-minute performance. Nobody cares if you win the second half if you lose the game.
“We must be clinical in our scrums because the last time we struggled against them. We must be clinical in our lineouts too and our general play. It will take a good effort from every individual. We can’t drop our heads or afford to drop any more points.”
