CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - MAY 30: John Dobson during the DHL Western Province training session at High Performance Centre on May 30, 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
They can’t finish lower than seventh and may give some fringe players an opportunity to build depth, but they are still regarding Saturday’s final Vodacom United Rugby Championship league fixture against the Emirates Lions in Cape Town as a playoff fixture.
There will probably be many neutrals among South Africans rooting for a Lions win on the basis that should the Lions pick up full points and other results also go their way; they could sneak into the qualification bracket for next season’s Investec Champions Cup as well as of course the URC playoffs.
But while thanks to picking up nine points of a maximum 10 on their recent two match tour it is no longer a must win for the Stormers, the Cape team’s assistant coach Dawie Snyman says the team are not seeing it that way.
“We decided after the defeat to the Ospreys that every game was a must win, meaning an effective playoff game, and we are not changing from that mentality now,” said Snyman at the start of the buildup week to the derby.
“The way we see it we have to win every game, whether it is by one point or two points it doesn’t matter. In the quarterfinals and semifinals, the focus will be the same.”
The Lions will certainly come to Cape Town with a lot more riding on the game than the Stormers have, for they will be hungry for a place in the playoffs and a first ever appearance in the Champions Cup next season. Snyman says his team are glad that the Lions will be coming down with a mission, as the tougher game it is so the better preparation it will be for the playoffs.
