You could argue that the DHL Stormers’ Investec Champions Cup round of 16 clash with La Rochelle in Cape Town on Saturday is just one of several knockout games that Salmaan Moerat’s team have played in this year’s competition.
Who else is up for some more Investec Champions Cup action at DHL Stadium? We have got the defending champs coming back for some knock-out rugby on Saturday.
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) March 31, 2024
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From the moment the draw for the elite European competition was made last December it was evident that it was going to be tough for the Stormers and that few slip ups would be possible if they were to make the knockout rounds.
They were drawn in what many considered to be the Champions Cup’s ‘group of death’, with champions La Rochelle, the beaten finalists of the last two years Leinster, former winners Leicester Tigers, the Sale Sharks and Stade Francais all part of the pool.
The failure to pick up at least a losing bonus point, something they should have done given the quality of the performance produced by what was effectively a Stormers second string team, in the opening game against Leicester at Welford Road meant that they had to beat La Rochelle at the DHL Stadium the following week or they were gone.
And they looked like they were gone a few minutes from the end when La Rochelle scored a try that took them more than a score ahead, only for it to be cancelled out when the TMO intervened.
The Stormers grabbed the gift with both hands, scoring a driving maul try on the final whistle followed by a match-winning touchline conversion from Manie Libbok.
LIVING ON THE EDGE
Talk about living on the edge, the Stormers were doing it from that moment, with a win against the strong Sale Sharks following in early January before they came from behind again against another French team, this time Stade Francais, on an inclement night in Paris to make sure of their place in the play-offs.
Not only did they make the play-offs, they secured home ground advantage for the round of 16 tie.
But while that suggests that the Stormers have already achieved more than was dreamed possible at the start, the Cape side’s star backline Springbok and World Cup-winner Damian Willemse seems to disagree.
“The perception within the squad is different to what is written and what appears in social media, for us it has always just been about taking it step by step and being in control in the moment,” said Willemse.
That suggests that a home loss to the champions in the round of 16 clash won’t be okay for a Stormers team that has higher aspirations than just being able to say they made it out of their group in the competition two years in a row.
But getting this far has been an enjoyable experience for Willemse, and he intends making Saturday’s occasion in front of what he hopes will be a massive Cape Town crowd enjoyable too.
“I am just super proud about what we’ve done in this competition. We went to Welford Road and although we shot ourselves in the foot in that game we got great confidence going into the next game,” he said.
“We came home and beat La Rochelle right at the end. We got over the hurdle against Sale Sharks and then we went to Paris, which was really tough in that time of winter. We won that game as well and that’s the confidence we can take into Saturday’s game.
“This is a round of 16 game, this is a knockout round. It’s pressure. It’s all about how we as a team manage that pressure and come up with solutions. It’s a massive occasion. We can’t look at it and not have fun. That’s what we do as the Stormers. We go out and play to the best of our ability, but we also go and have fun. We can’t just be under pressure, we need to enjoy ourselves.”
If last time is anything to go by, our Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 match against the defending champs at DHL Stadium on Saturday should be a cracker.
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) April 1, 2024
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SOME WELL-KNOWN FACES RETURNING IN OPPOSITION
Led by France No 8 Gregory Aldritt, La Rochelle include some behemoths, headed by giant Wallaby lock Will Skelton, who is expected back for this game and Willemse knows quite well after sharing a house with him during a stint at Saracens, as well as French tighthead Uini Atonio, plus two South Africans in former Stormers stars Dillyn Leyds and Raymond Rhule.
It is not a side that has an identifiable perceived strength, but rather threats across the park, although Willemse reminded us on Tuesday’s Zoom press conference call that you’d say the same about the Stormers.
“They are a very well-coached, talented side, they can keep the ball and can take you on physically. They can counter attack with their outside backs… They’ve got everything in their artillery. We beat them in the pool game, but this is not a pool game. This is a knock-out game, so there is going to be pressure and tight moments. We are going to have to be ready and sharp.
“They do have more experience than us when it comes to playing in this competition, but we are just going to have to be prepared for whatever they throw at us on Saturday.”
The round of 16 tie will kick off at 4pm CAT (SA, GMT+2) on Saturday afternoon.
What a night it was at DHL Stadium for @Hacjivah's 50th game. Another big one on Saturday in the Investec Champions Cup knock-out against the defending champs.
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) April 2, 2024
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