After a commanding performance with the boot and ball in hand, Stormers flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu must be their game driver in the final two overseas URC league matches.
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Two tricky European tour matches lie ahead for the Stormers, where the forwards’ battle and control in the backline must be the order of the day to seal the top spot in the United Rugby Championship.
They face Ulster and Cardiff Rugby on consecutive Fridays over the next couple of weeks in the final two rounds of the URC, as they look to stay in control of their destiny.
Sitting at the top of the log and with their play-off fate firmly in their own hands, the Cape side will need at least one victory to ensure they secure a home match in the quarter-finals.
When playing away from DHL Stadium, things are considerably tougher for them. However, the inaugural URC winners need only channel their early-season form — where they won 10 matches on the trot — to find inspiration for the next two clashes.
At the start of their campaign, an excellent base laid by their forwards, combined with a backline that played with control and maturity, ensured that the Stormers remained unbeaten away from home for the first time at the start of a URC season.
“Our game has been conditions-driven, and we had to go with a different approach, ensuring our set piece, kicking game and defence fired,” backline coach Dawie Snyman summed that approach up earlier in the season.
Now, they can potentially replicate it to grind out victories overseas. Their strong performance on the road will be vital as they head to Ireland this week for the first match against Ulster.
The clash at Kingspan Stadium will be the trickiest, and they simply have to hit the ground running. A victory could seal a home play-off, allowing them to approach the following Friday against Cardiff with greater freedom. However, a loss could turn their campaign into a do-or-die final match in Wales.
That is why channelling that winning formula of earlier will be so crucial.
By using their pack to provide a stable platform, they can replicate their away success. Yes, they are missing some key players, including locks JD Schickerling and Salmaan Moerat, as well as scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, but they have the depth to come through.
Their latest victory over a star-studded Glasgow Warriors side will also provide plenty of confidence as they board the plane this week. They rallied to claim a bonus-point victory in Cape Town following a tough previous outing under emotional circumstances against Connacht.
If they can produce another fighting performance against Ulster, they will be set for a strong finish in Cardiff to seal the top position this season.