Schalk: Stormers can ‘play rugby’ against Chiefs

Schalk Burger. Photo: NIC BOTHMA

Schalk Burger. Photo: NIC BOTHMA

Published Jul 19, 2016

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Cape Town - Stormers captain Schalk Burger believes his promising bunch of young warriors can go toe-to-toe with the Chiefs in Saturday’s Super Rugby quarter-final at Newlands.

The two-time champion Chiefs are the favourites despite having travelled from New Zealand and arriving in Cape Town on Monday evening, with their experience of finals rugby and a host of All Blacks in their squad giving them the edge over the Stormers.

But Robbie Fleck’s team have been making steady progress with their attacking game to complement a ruthless pack who have been dominant in the scrums and lineouts in recent weeks, with the Cape side scoring 18 tries in three matches since the June Test break.

Bok centre Damian de Allende seems to have regained the form that saw him being named as the SA Super Rugby Player of the Year in 2015, while Huw Jones scored four tries against the Kings last week and wing Leolin Zas claimed a hat trick.

While the Chiefs boast world-class playmakers such as Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden and Damian McKenzie, Burger thinks his boys can do the job on Saturday, despite the fact that the Stormers haven’t played a New Zealand team this year.

“A lot of times when we play New Zealand sides, it’s a similar challenge. But in between all of them, they’ve got a few different styles. The Chiefs are a quality side, and it’s different to other years, when you would’ve faced a New Zealand side, and we haven’t,” the veteran Springbok loose forward said.

“So it’s a brand-new thing for us. We will prepare well, and there’s only so much you can worry about, and then start trying to organise how you are going to beat, plot how you are going to put them under pressure.

“That’s the challenge, and all the boys are excited about the challenge. We were all watching the two New Zealand derbies (on Saturday), and it was spectacular rugby. I think we just want to be a part of that, and be in no doubt – I think this group believes that they can play rugby against them.”

While the Stormers have made positives strides forward with their attacking play, there is a 50 percent chance of rain forecast for Cape Town on Saturday, which may mean that their forwards need to play an even bigger role in neutralising a hard-working Chiefs pack.

Oli Kebble, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Nizaam Carr are all back after missing the Kings game, and Burger feels that the Stormers may even have the edge upfront.

“I suppose set-piece is one of those things that, you can’t solely win a game by it, but sometimes you could lose a game by it. If it functions well, as a captain, it makes it quite easy to make decisions because you can back certain facets of the game,” he said.

“That’s one area where we think we might be able to put them (the Chiefs) under pressure – maybe an area of dominance for us. Every week’s different, but even when we lost a few of our own lineouts (against the Kings), I thought we put their lineout under immense pressure.

“Our pack has been functioning well, especially since the June break, so let’s hope that we can do that (against the Chiefs).”

Saturday’s match kicks off at 7pm and Sanzaar announced on Tuesday that the referee will be South African Jaco Peyper.

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Independent Media

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