The DHL Stormers will have two training sessions to prepare for the Champions Cup quarter-final away to Exeter Chiefs after arriving in the southwest of England on Wednesday. DYLAN JACK reports.
Reports broke on Tuesday that logistical issues had resulted in a delay on the Stormers’ trip to Exeter for the Champions Cup quarter-final.
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While the Stormers hoped to arrive in England early in the week to prepare for the match, SARugbymag.co.za understands that logistical issues with their flight meant that the team were still in Cape Town on Tuesday morning.
After the Stormers successfully arrived in Exeter on Wednesday, assistant coach Norman Laker and veteran centre Ruhan Nel assured fans that it would not affect their performance in the quarter-final.
“We wanted to leave on Monday, early Monday evening,” Laker explained. “I don’t think there were flights, I am not 100% sure, I can’t give you the specifics. Then it came through that we are leaving in three groups on Tuesday morning, but it was spread out. Our flight had a technical error. The group that myself and Ruhan were in changed airlines.
“We left yesterday morning in three groups. Some guys travelled via Doha and some through Dubai. We all landed earlier this morning in London and took the bus, around a three-hour trip, to Exeter.
“It was a little disruptive, but we aren’t going to hammer on about it or let it get in our way of performing on Saturday. A lot of credit also has to be given to our manager, Chippie Solomon.
“The guys are doing some massages and recovery this afternoon,” Laker added. “We will have a late training session on Thursday, on Friday we will have our captain’s run and on Saturday we will play.
“We are looking forward to the match and we aren’t bothered about the travel.”
Nel added that the Stormers used their time off the training field as constructively as they could.
“Most of us have played long enough to know how to tackle these challenges. Everyone was sitting with a cellphone or a laptop, going through the plans for this weekend and looking through those extras,” said Nel.
“Sometimes you get weeks where you will have a session or two fewer and it’s actually a good thing. You keep mentally sharp, because it forces you to spend a bit of time behind the computer screen.
“It’s not something we are worried about for this weekend’s game. Sometimes, after a long travel, a bit less time on the field is actually a good thing for the guys. So I wouldn’t say that it’s something that we are focused on.”
Photo: Twitter: @THESTORMERS