DHL Stormers skipper Steven Kitshoff expects the defending champions to seize every opportunity to bury Munster in the Vodacom URC finale in Cape Town next week.
The Stormers will host Munster on 27 May for back-to-back URC finals in Cape Town, after a 43-25 semi-final victory for the Capetonians against Connacht at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
Munster’s thrilling 16-15 win over Leinster in Dublin set the stage for a titanic rematch against the Stormers next week, after John Dobson’s charges had their unbeaten 19-game run at the venue ended by the Irish team earlier this season.
Recalling the Stormers’ previous encounter with Munster, Kitshoff highlighted the slow start they had and their subsequent efforts to fight their way back into the game, taking the lead at one point but were unable emerge triumphant.
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The Springbok loosehead prop acknowledged the excellent defence by the Red Army and noted the missed opportunities the URC title-holders had to score points.
Speaking in a Stormers media conference on Monday, the World Cup winner told reporters: “Thinking back to our Munster game, we had a slow start and once we scored a couple of good tries we fought our way back into the game… got the lead at one point but couldn’t finish.
“I think there were a lot of opportunities for us to come away with points and get the victory, but also Munster’s defence was excellent, they put us under pressure. [In the final] I think there are going to be opportunities, and if you watch the game between Leinster and Munster there were a lot of opportunities but neither team executed.
“So that’s what it comes down to in finals rugby, when you’ve got the ball you actually need to finish in those big moments like we did towards the end of the game against Connacht. The game was tight all the way up to the 75th minute and then we scored two nice tries.
“That’s what is going to be a big factor, the team who executes best and takes their opportunities comes away with the trophy.”
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