At least one win in the next two local derbies will keep the Stormers within touching distance of the United Rugby Championship playoffs.
Going all out at Ellis Park against the Lions tomorrow afternoon (2.30pm kickoff) is crucial for the Cape side as they aim to turn their fortunes around in the tournament off the back of two tough losses.
On the edge of every seat at a packed DHL Stadium.
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) February 12, 2025
Watch the full Unfiltered match feature on Stormers TV 👇 https://t.co/61AatyfCWE pic.twitter.com/JiC7kg7S7u
Still in 10th place on the URC log, it’s far from over for the inaugural champions in the tournament.
But failing to get at least a single win when they face the Lions and Bulls (March 1) over the next few weeks could see their chances for a knockout spot dwindle.
While revenge will be on the cards when they go to Loftus in March after a narrow 33-32 loss to the Pretoria side last weekend, the Ellis Park derby will present an entirely different challenge tomorrow.
They’ll face a refreshed and hungry Lions pack after a couple of weeks of rest.
With the Jozi pride in the worst position of the four SA franchises on the log (13th), they’ll be eager to pick up more points. They will come out running against their visitors, and how the Capetonians handle that will be key to their survival.
The Stormers are going for a 𝗦𝗜𝗫𝗧𝗛 straight win in Joburg on Saturday 👀⛈ pic.twitter.com/4LwPrDFkRv
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) February 11, 2025
Apart from a couple of props in Neethling Fouché and Ali Vermaak who could boost the side when director of rugby John Dobson announces his team today, it should not look very different from the one that took things to the wire in Cape Town in the North-South Derby.
That in itself could bring much-needed continuity in certain positions, which could just prove to be the inspiration that the Stormers need to gain winning momentum in Johannesburg.
What also counts in their favour is that they’ve never lost against their hosts at Ellis Park in the URC. They’ve shown time and again that they will go to the darkest places to preserve their dominance on the domestic rugby scene.
73' Lions 22-26 Stormers
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) February 12, 2025
75' Lions 27-26 Stormers
81' Lions 30-26 Stormers
82' Lions 30-33 Stormers
Throwback to the 𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗛 & 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗕 to break their Joburg losing streak in 2020 🍿
Who will emerge victorious on Saturday in #OriginRound in the #VURC derby? pic.twitter.com/LaamxkvQom
Getting out of that dark place they found themselves in after the loss against the Bulls will be critical.
They’ll need the likes of flyhalf Jurie Matthee to forget about the kicks he missed for points.
The same goes for utility back Clayton Blommetjies, who missed the crucial conversion at the death.
And they must rely on their Stormers DNA and game-plan to attack the Lions from the outset, and not stray from it.
If they rock up to Johannesburg showing any signs of vulnerability, the Lions will pounce on that and exploit it. And the hosts know how to hunt vulnerable prey.
While Bulls No 8 Cameron Hanekom was a thorn in the flesh of the Stormers last weekend, tomorrow it could be Lions captain and eighthman Francke Horn, who is just as dynamic and tough with the ball under his arm, this time around when he faces star Cape loose forward Evan Roos.
But unlike the forward-dominated showdown last week, it’s the battle with the Lions’ backline that could decide the outcome.
There will still be plenty of fireworks in the scrums, mauls and at the breakdown, but running with the ball could be the key to unlocking defences.
If you give fullback Quan Horn, centre Henco van Wyk, winger Edwill van der Merwe and scrumhalf Morné van den Berg any running metres to work with, your defence will be in trouble.
So, the Cape side’s tackling on the highveld must also be up to standard to shut down those dangerous attackers.
The Stormers will do well to remember the individual brilliance of Van der Merwe when he scored a beautiful solo try in Cape Town in December.