The DHL Stormers will travel to Paris for their final round of the Champions Cup hoping to secure a home playoff against Stade Francais at Stade Jean Bouin.
DHL Stormers' skills coach Labeeb Levy said they are not willing to just make up the Champions Cup numbers and believe they can compete with the best on the global stage.
“Technically, we can still be eliminated if we don’t get any league points and other teams accumulate points. We have to play good rugby because we are coming up against a team with Test players and the crowd on their side.”
“Actually, we want the crowd not to be kind to us because it can cultivate psychological toughness. It can help us now and in the future."
“Last year it was our first experience in the cold in Clermont,” the assistant coach said. This time we go in with that experience of playing in those behind us.”
“In terms of the conditions, it is about being mentally tough. If it snows, you play in the snow. If it is ice cold, you play in the cold. If it rains, you play in the rain.”
“We want to go for the win because we aim to get a home-ground advantage in the play-offs."
“It is all in our hands and that is our focus. If we want to be a champion team we have to adapt and win away from home.”
Levy said that the Stormers won’t be changing too much about their approach. “There will be a tweak here and there, because of the conditions.”
“We will tweak the game plan a bit, but we don’t want to change too much. in terms of how we want to play. It will be like this past weekend, where the players found themselves in certain situations and saw opportunities."
“They made those calls on the field. The one massive positive of the team is that they find solutions on the field."
“We want to go for the win, because our aim is to get home-ground advantage in the playoffs. It’s all in our hands and that is our focus."
“If we want to be a champion team we have to adapt and win away from home.”
Labeeb Levy also said that despite Stade Francais's poor showing in the Champions Cup they will not underestimate their French opponents.
“They will be playing for pride, we are not just going to rock up there and expect it to happen.
“They are a team with a good set piece and the Champions Cup level is slightly higher than URC."