More astute decision-making, securing better field position – and most importantly, finishing what they’ve created – will be among the Stormers most important priorities this week.

The Stormers play against the Highlanders at Newlands on Saturday and have their minds set on regaining the momentum lost against the Brumbies last weekend.

Speaking at the Western Province High Performance Centre in Bellville after training on Wednesday, head coach Allister Coetzee said that the Stormers were still on track with where they wanted to go in the Super 14, but wanted to take a step up this weekend. The players were very keen to get their decision-making right on Saturday.

The team were determined to finish promising attacking movements and to score more tries. “I’m pretty pleased with the six tries for us and [only] two against us but we know we have to finish better. We’re creating opportunites; we just need to finish them off now,” Coetzee said.

Securing more advantageous field position was crucial too. “We must box clever enough to play the game in the right areas of the field. That’s non-negotiable. You can’t play too much rugby in your half.” Coetzee said the Highlanders had a big pack who formed a good set piece unit. “They will probably come at us at scrum-time but we’re well prepared for that,” he said.

He expected the Highlanders to adapt their game to suit what they thought would be the best way to play against the Stormers but he said that the defence system was geared to adapting to any form of attack. “Our defence is such that we can expect anything from any team and we will be alert to anything coming our way.”

The Stormers appreciated what scrumhalf and captain Jimmy Cowan and other stand-out players like Isreal Dagg or Adam Thomson brought to the Highlanders team but they would not be focusing specifically on any one player. “We look at the whole picture,” he said.

Asked to comment on emerging star Michael Hobbs, the 22-year-old Highlanders flyhalf who has made a big impact in the first three weeks of the competition, Coetzee said: “He’s a very physical player and he backs himself. He’s just stepped up to Super Rugby but he backs himself – a hell of a lot of confidence!” He respected the Highlanders as a team: “One shouldn’t read anything into where the Highlanders are on the log; they’re quite a capable side. They’ve got good set piece and great open field runners. Their wings thrive on turnover ball so they counter-attack well.”

On the mood in the Stormers camp, Coetzee said: “We’ve moved on since last week. We know what our ability is and we’re still on track with where we want to go in this competition. We know we’ve got to step up this week, to pitch up with our complete A-game.

” Skipper Schalk Burger, returning after a hamstring injury kept him on the sidelines last weekend, is champing at the bit in his eagerness to get back onto the field. Each week provided a different challenge and he was looking forward to this week’s game. “The Highlanders chance their arm. They throw the ball around when they get the opportunity. They have exciting outside backs so they’ll definitely try and use those players,” he said.

From iafrica.com