The expression “singing in the rain” proved very apt for the DHL Stormers on their last visit to the highveld for a Vodacom URC derby - to refresh memories it was at the beginning of March last year that they went to Loftus and against the odds beat the Vodacom Bulls 19-16.
It was far from the usual game you expect between the Stormers and Bulls in Pretoria, mainly because of an electric storm that precipitated a deluge that made parts of the field resemble a paddy field.
There was a delayed start, but when it did start it turned out that the Stormers had the perfect players for the conditions, particularly at halfback, where scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer and flyhalf Jurie Matthee proved adept at playing the conditions and controlling the game for the Cape side.
Matthee ended up winning the official man of the match award after a performance that must have figured large in the mind of Stormers director of rugby John Dobson when he offered the flyhalf an extended contract until 2029 even though the player is not first choice in his position at the Stormers.
BOK DUO MAY BE RESTED
Of course Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is the first choice No 10, but it seems there’s a good chance that Matthee might be in the pivot position when the Stormers head to Johannesburg to face the Lions in their round 11 clash on Saturday.
As assistant coach Dawie Snyman explained on Monday, the Stormers have made individual arrangements with their Boks around the resting protocols, but he appeared to hint that neither of the two fit first choice Stormers Boks will be playing at Ellis Park.
“We’ve made individual arrangements around their resting with each player,” said Snyman.
“Damian (Willemse) is in the building so I am not sure if he is allowed to play on Saturday, I will find out more about that later in the day, and we also have an individual arrangement with Sacha.
"We do respect the need for the players to rest, and we are also aware that we will want them to be fully available (without having to rest) later on in the season when the competitions head to the business end.”
REINACH OUT UNTIL APRIL
The other first choice Stormers Bok is scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, but he is out at the moment rehabilitating after undergoing a medical procedure after the last game against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban.
“With the break there was an opportunity for Cobus to undergo a procedure after teh Sharks game. He needed to sort out an injury that wasn’t going away so it was a good time to do it. We are expecting him back for the round of 16 (Investec Champions Cup) game against Toulon (in early April).”
Ungerer was alongside Snyman in fronting the media in an online zoom call on Monday and the smart money should be on him and Matthee resuming the partnership that won the wet weather game at Loftus, and it could work well for the Stormers as wet weather is predicted for match day.
Ungerer agreed that the experience of winning in the wet in Pretoria almost exactly 12 months ago will be helpful if it does rain.
“Hopefully it won’t be as bad as it was at Loftus that day, I don’t think I have ever played in weather as hectic as that,” grinned Ungerer.
“But obviously it does help if you play in conditions which are similar to conditions you played in before and won. It gives you confidence. But obviously it could go either way, the Lions might have had a similar experience. If it is wet we will draw on that previous experience and put a lot into controlling tempo and territory.”
ANOTHER REASON A WET DAY MIGHT HELP VISITORS
A wet day in Johannesburg could help the Stormers in another way - if it means cooler conditions, the altitude factor that is seen as an obstacle for visiting coastal teams, particularly in games that kick off in the early afternoon in summer like this one will, will be lessened.
“The prediction is that the temperatures will be a little cooler (than they usually are) and that could make it a bit easier for us,” said Snyman.
“But we have planned for certain conditions in the past and then they haven’t materialised so we are planning for all the different possible scenarios. The key is to be able to adjust your game on the day to whatever the prevailing conditions are.”
The Ellis Park field is very different in the summer months to what it is in June or July, the dry season, and it looked soft underfoot, with bits of turf coming up every time there was a scrum, when the Lions beat the Sharks there this past weekend. That could also play into the Stormers’ hands, even though it might negatively impact on their strong scrum.
“I don’t think the condition of the field will force us to change plans, it (a soft field) is better than yellow and rock hard. It makes it easier to adjust,” said Snyman.
The Stormers team for Saturday’s game will be announced on Friday.