Former Springbok Schalk Brits has been giving his thoughts on what the DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls need to do as the Vodacom URC reaches the business end of the season.
The 15-times capped hooker played for both teams during an illustrious career that also took in the best part of a decade at Saracens.
The DHL Stormers currently lie fifth in the table with games against Dragons RFC (away), Connacht Rugby (away) and Emirates Lions (home) to come.
As for the Vodacom Bulls, they are one spot higher, in fourth, ahead of home fixtures against new table toppers Glasgow Warriors and eighth-placed Benetton Rugby, plus a trip to Durban to face the Hollywoodbets Sharks.
Speaking at a Vodacom URC round table. Brits ran the rule over the two title hopefuls.
“The Stormers are making mistakes in crucial moments,” he said.
“Although they have got lots of talent, sometimes you just need experience, the cooler heads and then you make better decisions.
“For me, rugby is about compounding pressure.
“When there are more experienced players on the pitch, you tend to make better decisions with pressure.
“They have had injuries in one or two crucial positions and there have been some crucial kicks that haven’t gone over, but that’s just how the cookie crumbles.
“With them playing abroad now for the next two weeks, it’s a bit harder.”
Yet Brits takes heart from the Stormers having reached the Vodacom URC final for the past two seasons, lifting the trophy in 2022.
“What John Dobson has done is bring happiness to Cape Town. The players are having a good time,” he said.
“I would rather let them be average during the year and get to the final and win a trophy, than being great all year and not winning anything.”
Turning to the Bulls, he said: “They are playing Glasgow this weekend at home.
“This is the big game. For them to lose this one would be massive.
“It’s going to be quite hot and humid at altitude in Pretoria, which makes it really hard to play the Bulls there.
“Jake White is a coach that likes momentum and he will want to build momentum going into the play-off games.
“I like where the Bulls are sitting.”