There is plenty of enthusiasm in the Stormers camp ahead of their final Super
Rugby tour match Down Under - against the Rebels in Melbourne on
Friday.
The Stormers are chasing a second tour triumph this weekend and
assistant coach Matt Proudfoot said the team had a good day's training in Sydney
on Tuesday.
"It was one of our main sessions for the week, we had two
good sessions (this morning and afternoon) today. Most of the guys trained, so
we're happy with how the day went," said Proudfoot.
Lock Gerbrandt
Grobler joined the sessions on Tuesday, his first of the tour after arriving in
Sydney as an injury replacement on Monday, and his presence added to the
enthusiasm at training.
"Gerbrandt Grobler arrived all bright-eyed and
bushy-tailed last night and he came across well this morning after bonding with
the forwards last night. He's gelled nicely with the guys, but we're fortunate
that he's been with us before - so he has a fair understanding of the basics. It
was just a case of refreshing his memory a bit.
"He's brought some
enthusiasm and a fresh attitude and it's great to have that in the team. It's
another a young guy who's getting his chance and that's always a good thing,"
said Proudfoot.
Young Grobler is likely to start
from the bench against the Rebels, with Don Armand and Nizaam Carr in line for
starting roles against the Rebels - a great opportunity for players to stake a
claim for selection moving forward and, also, giving the Stormers team an even
more youthful look in the process.
"That's where a Siya Kolisi came
from... that's where Rynhardt Elstadt came from... an Eben Etzebeth, a Steven
Kitshoff - you can carry on. If you're not prepared to give the young guys a
chance they're not going to deliver on the big stage for you," explained
Proudfoot.
"We've been going quite well at set-phase time, so there's
quite a nice structure for him (Grobler) to come into and he will hopefully have
an opportunity to express himself should he get on."
The Rebels have won
just two matches in eleven starts in 2013 but, like the Stormers, they have
picked up five losing bonus
points this season; their recent defeats to the Chiefs (33-39 - two weeks ago)
and the Blues (32-36 - last week) showing just how small the margins have been
for them.
"They have a very high work-rate with an exceptional lineout.
Scott Higginbotham (Loose forward) has been quite robust in their last few
games, so we're expecting quite a challenge from them up front - especially in
the set-piece," said Proudfoot of the Australian franchise.
"We've faced
quite a bit of pressure on our maul in our last few games, so we need to be
accurate in our set-up and making sure we can get the rewards from
it."
Friday is the Stormers' last game on their four-match tour (kick-off
is at 11:40 SA time), but they will not be changing their mental approach too
drastically - despite a win
being of the utmost importance ahead of their return to South
Africa.
"The Blues game, we were right in there and pushing hard to win
it in the last couple of minutes. In the Waratahs game we came back nicely and
we just let it slip. Both games (we've lost), we felt we've been right in the
games and pushing very hard," said Proudfoot.
"We haven't tried to set
unrealistic goals for the guys - we will continue
take it game by game," he added.
"Yes, it's a one-off game being the last
on our tour, but it's a game against very tough opposition and we're looking
forward to the challenge which the Rebels will pose for us."
