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The Stormers, now in 'full game mode' after their two-week break, said they cannot play the way they did against Connacht.
Stormers No 8 Evan Roos says his side have to improve. Picture: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
The Stormers say it simply won’t be enough to take on Benetton with the same intensity they showed during their narrow win against Connacht last weekend.
They admitted they will have to up the ante in the set-pieces, and particularly in the lineouts, where Benetton dominated the Lions during their own United Rugby Championship match on the weekend.
The Stormers scraped home in their 34–29 win against Connacht in Cape Town only because a late try by the Irish side was overturned for an obstruction.
On the same day, Benetton were excellent in Johannesburg, securing their 42–31 bonus-point win against the Lions with ease.
“The Italians are a very passionate people, very proud of their rugby and their country so I feel it will be a physical match,” said Stormers No 8 Evan Roos.
“There are quality players who work hard so that’s the type of things we live for – good rugby matches and top rugby matches over the weekend. It’s another great opportunity to show what we can do.”
Roos, who scored a try against Connacht, still said their defence was not up to standard and would need to improve.
“We as the players said it wasn’t good enough. I want to say we were lucky to win.
“I think we did work hard, we weren’t clinical enough in terms of defence, so that was the point of this week. We sorted out all the small things and we will have full confidence going into this match against Benetton.”
Forwards coach Rito Hlungwani told media they were working on defence and set-pieces, while building on strengths they already had.
“We are in good spirits and we want to continue preparing so we can face Benetton with full confidence,” Hlungwani said.
“I am sure you would have seen, they put the Lions’ line-out under pressure. They contest everywhere on the field. They contest on their five, they contest on your five. They like putting a lot of pressure on the set-piece.”
On the positive side, Roos said the Stormers had shown fight and character to hold off Connacht, and were now in “full game mode” after a two-week break while other teams played in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.
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