Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has stated that the DHL Stormers will "give everything we've got" against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in their United Rugby Championship (URC) rematch in Durban on Saturday at 17:00 (SA Time).
Feinberg-Mngomezulu said that the team has had a calm, focused response to last week's loss, concentrating on specific areas for improvement, particularly the performance of their forwards.
“We don’t want to go into the break on the back of two losses,” he said. “We’re ready for it, physically and mentally, and hopefully we go into the break with a smile.”
Feinberg-Mngomezulu highlighted the importance of the forward pack's performance, expecting an "epic confrontation" up front that will determine the outcome of the match.
“If our forwards can be better this weekend, it gives us a proper platform,” Feinberg-Mngomezulu said.
“If our forwards come out firing tomorrow, which I’m sure they will, then the backs have to do our job off the back of that.”
“Set-piece and the battle up front are always massive in these games,” Snyman added. “It comes down to what the two packs can give the backs to play with.”
The team has identified one or two specific areas that cost them in the previous match and has been working on "sharpening those areas" in training.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu welcomed the selection of Jonathan Roche at No 12, praising his strength, distribution, work ethic, and communication skills in the backline.
“Johnny’s been really good for us. He’s strong, he’s got a good distribution game, and he works incredibly hard in the unseen moments,” he said. “He’s another brain in the backline and a great communicator.”
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that his team will be going all-out to take an away win in the upcoming break.
“Playing back-to-back derbies against the same opposition is a fairly unique situation, and we are desperate to put in a more convincing performance than we managed at home last week.
“We have been boosted by the return from injury of some key players, and you can be sure that all 23 will be going out there to show what it means to play in our jersey for our fans,” he said.