We need to develop killer instinct - Scarra

If you believe in sporting jinxes you might start believing that there is one on the DHL Stormers when it comes to their clashes against the two big teams in South African rugby at present, the Vodacom Bulls and the Cell C Sharks.

This past weekend’s rather weird defeat to the Sharks in the opening game of PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA was just the latest in a line of games where the Stormers, or their domestic incarnation as Western Province, have come up short against the big two.

They were controlling the game before they had players red carded and lost momentum against the Sharks, and in terms of possession and territory, all the stats with the exception of the one that counted on the scoreboard were in their favour when they lost the Currie Cup semifinal to the same team a few months before that.

And experienced Stormers hooker and team leadership figure f you believe in sporting jinxes you might start believing that there is one on the DHL Stormers when it comes to their clashes against the two big teams in South African rugby at present,has not forgotten what happened in the last two games against the Bulls either. In the Currie Cup last November the Bulls came back from a deficit and being completely dominated at forward to score their first win at Newlands in more than 10 years off the last move of the game. And they were down to 14 men at the time!

TANTALISINGLY SHORT

Then just under two months ago there was more agony as the Stormers lost a close one against the Bulls at Loftus. Admittedly it was a Kick Off 2021 game, meaning a preparation game where the result shouldn’t have really mattered, but it has been a while since the Cape side has won in Pretoria. So, had Juarno Augustus dotted down what would have been the winning try several minutes beyond the hooter, it would have been a big confidence booster.

Instead Augustus, much like Ruhan Nel did against the Sharks this past weekend, failed to dot the ball down even though he was over the opposition line and the Stormers fell tantalisingly short.

“I do remember the Juarno incident and it is a motivation for us in this game,” said Ntubeni in reference to Saturday night’s Rainbow Cup clash with the Bulls at Cape Town Stadium.

“We had come back really well so we were obviously gutted when Trokkie knocked that ball on. No-one does that on purpose so we got behind him and I tell you one thing, he won’t make that mistake again if he has another opportunity. But the memory of that game definitely motivates us. It was another occasion where we didn’t play for a full 80 minutes, something we haven’t done in a long time.”?

Ntubeni said that there have been too many instances recently where the Sharks and Bulls have got home against the Stormers by three or five points, which was an indication that he and his teammates were having enough of the game but just failing to get across the line as winners.

NOT A MENTAL ISSUE

The sequence of close defeats in games where the Stormers have dominated for periods before letting it slip does beg a question - is it starting to develop into a bit of a mental thing for the Cape side?

“I don’t think it's mental problem, it is just a case of ourselves on the field making mistakes that let us and the coaches down,” says Ntubeni.

“If we have a lapse on the field, if there is a big change in the game situation, we as senior players must respond and take charge of those situations better than we have been. We are well coached so it is inexcusable from us. We know about all the scenarios we could confront in a game beforehand and we prepare for them but for some reason it just doesn’t go smoothly.

“We had a long chat about this on Monday and again today (Tuesday). We are determined to get it right against the Bulls. I am looking forward to this weekend and another chance to test myself against quality players. As a team we haven’t performed to our potential. We’ve been losing by narrow margins and letting our opposition off the hook when they are down. We need to develop more of a killer instinct. When teams are down we need to go in for the kill.”

STRUGGLING TO BREAK TREND OF THIRD QUARTER FADE

The hooker will be the first to admit though that it will be easier said than done. For the scenario that keeps repeating itself was something the Stormers were well aware of in their halftime meeting when they were 23-12 ahead of the Sharks having just conceded a try in the last minutes of the first half.

“We always seem to lapse towards the end of first half and the first part of the second half. That was the big message at halftime in the Sharks game, but again we weren’t able to follow through and execute. Also, the discipline let us down and that took away the sting from our play, as it meant the boys had to work a lot harder. But it was learnings for us, we took it on the chin and hopefully we will pull thorough it and make everyone proud on Saturday.”

INSPIRATIONAL FORM

Ntubeni was in inspirational form against the Sharks, thoroughly justifying the decision made by coach John Dobson to start him ahead of Springbok World Cup winning hooker Bongi Mbonambi. The long-time Stormers stalwart, who recently signed a three-year contract extension that should see him end his career at the franchise where it all started for him nearly a decade ago, says there have been a few changes to his game that have come about due to hard work as well as a bit of personal introspection.

“Playing for the Springboks is always a drive, if you don’t want to play there you are wasting your time,” he said.

“I have put in a big effort. During this period off I worked really hard. I have been playing rugby at this level for quite a while now and now it is all about looking after my body and ensuring I get better as a player. It’s all about being more professional. I have learned a lot about myself as a player. I have been getting around the park much better, both against the Sharks and (in the final preparation game) against the Lions.”