The DHL Stormers will face Bayonne in their Investec Champions Cup opener, scheduled for Friday, 22:00 (SA Time).
DHL Stormers defence coach Norman Laker confirmed that three of the six DHL Stormers' Springboks have joined up with the squad in Biarritz, where they are preparing for Friday night’s opening Investec Champions Cup clash with Bayonne.
Damian Willemse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Cobus Reinach have flown home to Cape Town to prepare for next week’s trip to Gqeberha to face La Rochelle.
Laker said that the three Boks who have joined the Stormers squad have seen little to no game time and were raring to go again. He confirmed that the returning Springboks (Ben-Jason Dixon, Zachary Porthen, and Ntuthuko Mchunu) are in contention for selection, but the management has not yet decided if they will start, be on the bench, or sit in the stands, pending assessment of their physical condition and mind-space.
“Someone like Sacha played most of the games on tour, and there were also big workloads for Damian and Cobus. They were on tour for five weeks, so it made sense to send them home to get some rest so they can be ready for the tough part of the season that lies ahead for us.”
According to Laker, the team is taking "massive belief" from their recent comeback URC win over Munster, where they conceded no points in the second half. He emphasised the importance of discipline, lamenting the two yellow cards in that match.
“We were disappointed with the first half, especially because of how well we prepared,” Laker said. “But to concede no points in the second half and score three tries – that showed the guys put their hands up. The bench made a massive difference.”
“The starters had to chip away, and we knew our job was to finish. Munster are always tough in Ireland, so getting that result gave the whole squad huge confidence. It showed our depth and how everyone buys into what we want to achieve.”
“Obviously, first half, as I mentioned, the two yellow cards, any international game at this level, to play with 14 men for 20 minutes is tough.”
The Stormers have won their opening six matches of the URC, but Laker stressed that the Stormers need a "mental shift" for the Champions Cup, as it is a brand new competition compared to the URC.
“It’s a new competition, and we want a good start. The key is staying with 15 on the field and sticking to our systems. If we do that, we’ll give ourselves a real chance.”
