Stormers 2015 tour update: Lessons learnt
We chatted to DHL Stormers forwards coach Matt Proudfoot earlier today, from his team’s base in Queenstown, as our 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby squad continues with life on tour in Australasia.
The Men from the Cape went down 21-39 to the Highlanders in their tour-opener in Dunedin on Saturday, but they remain determined as ever to bounce back this week against the table-topping – and unbeaten – Hurricanes.
Adding to that determination was a clean bill of health on the injury front, meaning that all 27 squad members would be taking part in training tomorrow and, thus, would also be available for selection in Week Two of the four-match tour.
According to Proudfoot, the squad had good conditioning and review sessions on Monday, whilst the management team held their regular preview meetings in their specific departments as well as with the senior players and leadership team (all part of the team’s regular Monday routine).
“We had a very good review day and have put the Highlanders game to bed,” Proudfoot told the iamastormer.com website.
“The Hurricanes and Highlanders are similar in some ways, but not totally the same in other (ways). You need to dominate New Zealand sides on the gainline and if you need match them with your kicking game (too).
“We need to train accurately this week and put our lessons into practice against a Hurricanes side that is rightly sitting on top of the log and a team that has a tremendous ability to strike from out wide and also from turnovers.”
Speaking about the performance of the DHL Stormers pack, which continues to impress in 2015, Proudfoot added: “As a pack we set high standards and we need to maintain that consistency in our game to be a dominant pack (on a consistent basis).
“The Hurricanes are tough and proud up front and they play an incredibly hard brand of rugby. They are very proficient at line-out time, they have an excellent scrum and their work-rate is phenomenal. We need to match them in all facets of play up front – if you can’t match them technically you won’t be able to compete with them physically.”
The DHL Stormers team, to face the Hurricanes, will be announced on Tuesday morning (South African time).
The tour squad will head to Wellington on Thursday before taking on the ‘Canes at the Westpac Stadium on Friday (19h35 NZ time; 08h35 SA time).
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