Stormers loose forward Ruan Ackermann says the Cape side has learnt some valuable lessons from last season’s Investec Champions Cup heartbreak.
The Stormers reached the Round of 16 last season, but a 28-27 defeat away to Toulon ended their run, in a match that left them aggrieved over the refereeing. With coach John Dobson having bolstered his squad with some key signings and off the back of a statement win over the Sharks in the URC, Ackermann is confident that the Stormers can start the new Champions Cup campaign with a win over English side Bristol Bears in Cape Town on Saturday.
“Listen, we are all in on this tournament this year,” Ackermann said on the For the Love of Rugby: South Africa podcast. “I think last year we were all in as well, and we got to a stage where everyone was regretting some of the earlier mistakes we made in the competition.”
RUHAN: Stormers have more in the tank
He said Dobson picked his brain on how teams in England approach the competition. Ackermann said the difference is obvious when you walk in on a Monday and it is Europe week.
“There was a big switch, and it’s a different jersey as well that you’ve been playing in the whole Prem,” he said. “One of the big focus points was, you want to go as deep in the competition as you can. The plan for the Stormers and Dobbo’s vision is really to go hard for this competition as well. So yeah, everyone is excited for that.”
ALSO: Gaza chasing that star on his chest
That excitement extends to the squad’s experience. Asked about the big-name signings, including Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw and Cheslin Kolbe, Ackermann said their big-match pedigree will help in Europe.
“Those guys who’ve played in World Cup finals and have won it, I think they’ll bring a bit of a calmness and a buildup in the week which you kind of need,” he said.
The other big challenge for South African teams is the travel, which Ackermann described in detail.
“There’s never a direct flight sometimes,” he said. “So you go via connection flight, Dubai or something, and then it’s an 8-hour flight, connection flight, another 8-hour flight. You fly on a Monday. So you get there maybe the Tuesday afternoon, sometimes the Wednesday. You’ve got one training field session, captain’s run, into a game. So it’s never easy.”
PLUS: Stormers wary of ‘British Bulldog’
But he says the Stormers won’t use it as an excuse.
“I don’t think South African teams want to use that as an excuse,” he said. “I think that makes it almost more eager to win it, because if you can go past those hurdles and the actual games and getting to it, I think you’ll almost feel more deserving.”
Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
The post Stormers ‘all in’ on Champions Cup appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Stormers loose forward Ruan Ackermann says the Cape side has learnt some valuable lessons from last season’s Investec Champions Cup heartbreak.
The post Stormers ‘all in’ on Champions Cup appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
