The Stormers will want to be another stumbling block for the Sharks as they look to finish off Super Rugby on a roll with a double over the Durban-based team.
The final match of the league stages of Super Rugby culminates in a massive clash between these two costal rivals with the form of each switching over.
The Sharks were dominating the competition up until their last encounter with the Stormers in Round 16 where Allister Coetzee’s men came out victorious 21-19.
The Sharks, still South Africa’s only play-off hopes, have now slumped to third on the overall log after this weekend’s defeat to the Cheetahs.
The Stormers meanwhile have finally hit their straps with four successive victories against the Bulls, Sharks, Cheetahs and Force.
However, when asked if coach Coetzee took note of the Sharks’ shock defeat to the Cheetahs on the weekend he was quick to make it known that he is only interested in what his team and the Sharks have done to each other so far.
“I have learnt that you don’t look at the previous Sharks game, you look at the previous game we played against them,” Coetzee said ahead of the final game of the regular season.
The Stormers would clearly be buoyed by their past game with the Sharks, but the coach knows all to well that a few losses does not make a poor team.
“Things have not changed necessarily, the Sharks won’t be different, they are not all of a sudden a poor side because they lost to the Cheetahs,” Coetzee continued
“I think it is about us and not the Sharks, we have just got to make sure we put together two 40 minutes performances like we did last weekend.”
The Stormers have been in a development stage of their rugby, evolving their gameplan into one which is far more balanced between attack and defense – recently they have started getting it right.
“The important thing for us is too pitch up like we have, to have the same intensity in our training this week, and it starts now.
“Like we said last week, this is a very important game for us, these last two games – but the last one is probably the most important one because that is where you leave your last impressions.
“We definitely want to make sure we get it right, if we don’t get the result it will be a bit of a set back.
Stormers Director of Rugby Gert Smal was also on hand to explain the evolution of the Stormers game plan.
“We are getting the balance right now, knowing when to kick, to run and to pass,” he said, echoing coach Coetzee’s sentiments on the new style of play.
“You can see that the guys are enjoying the type of game that we are playing.
“Sometimes you will come up against opposition that will force you through the trenches and you have to win a game one way.
“However, what we have got going now is very exciting and im looking forward to the future.
The Stormers know that if they can leave a lasting impression on this seasons Super Rugby completion and get a fifth win in a row, they will be set up just like they were for the 2012 Currie Cup season.
Western Province managed to carry through their form from Super Rugby by winning every game of the Currie Cup up until the Final where they faltered, to the Sharks.
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