Sharks, Stormers, Cheetahs face icy challenge as Storm Goretti lashes Europe
CHAMPIONS CUP
Stormers and Bulls players such as Wandisile Simelane and Stravino Jacobs will play in totally different conditions that they are used to this weekend.
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The Sharks, Stormers, and Cheetahs are in for a frosty reception in Europe as the devastating Storm Goretti closes in, casting doubt on several Champions Cup and Challenge Cup fixtures.
The Sharks are in Manchester to face Sale, the Stormers take on Harlequins in London, and the Cheetahs are playing a "home" game against Ulster in Amsterdam. The Arctic storm has already resulted in the cancellation of many flights to and from Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport; it was due to hit the United Kingdom on Thursday and is only expected to dissipate on Sunday.
The UK Met Office issued an "Amber Warning" on Thursday, predicting winds of up to 145km/h and warning of "likely flying debris, plus 20cm of snow".
There are three levels of severe weather alerts in the UK: starting at yellow, escalating to amber, and peaking at red. The Met Office described Storm Goretti as a "multi-hazard event with heavy rain, strong winds, and snow, which could lead to injuries or danger to life, and severe disruption."
The South African teams have safely arrived at their respective destinations, where their chief objective during the build-up will be acclimatising to the extreme conditions. Compounding the challenge is the fact that the players have travelled from the sweltering heat of Durban, Cape Town, and Bloemfontein to sub-zero temperatures. The forecast for Saturday is -3°C.
The Bulls will well remember how the weather impacted their December 2024 Champions Cup match against Saracens in London, when Europe was in the grip of Storm Amy. The Bulls suffered a heavy defeat, and coach Jake White pleaded mitigating circumstances, stating that the trying conditions had to be experienced to be understood.
It will be a similar story for the Sharks, Stormers, and Cheetahs; the alien conditions will be as much of a challenge as the opposition.
Alex Sanderson, the Sale Sharks Director of Rugby, summed up the difficulty for the visitors: "It will be minus three degrees at the CorpAcq Stadium, and the Sharks are flying in from 30 degrees in Durban. It is going to have to be a quick acclimatisation for them. The CorpAcq at night in midwinter helps us against anyone. It’s not a nice place to come, and we want to keep it that way."