We checked Google Maps but we were relaxed – Leyds

Stormers fullback Dillyn Leyds stuck to the party line that last weekend’s traffic jam on the N1 wasn’t responsible for their shocking performance against the Bulls at Loftus.

Kick-off in the traditional north-south derby had to be delayed by 20 minutes after the Capetonians’ journey to the stadium took an hour and 45 minutes due to a truck overturning just after the Olifantsfontein on-ramp.

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It certainly also didn’t help that local community members started looting the truck.

“A lot of the guys got their phones out and started checking Google Maps to calculate the time we would arrive at the stadium,” said Leyds.

“At that stage, it said we’d only arrive at half past five (which was 15 minutes past the initial kick-off time).”

After the initial frustration though, the long arm of the law assisted the Stormers.

“A few traffic officers and policeman came on the scene and managed to help us get away a bit quicker. In the end we got to Loftus. I can’t even actually remember the exact time,” said the nine-cap Springbok.

“It was a big disruption and it was part of what we spoke about today.”

Yet that’s where the mitigating circumstances for the poor showing ends.

“Our on-field performance had nothing to do with what happened on the bus,” said Leyds.

“We were still pretty calm and relaxed when we got to the stadium. We had a plan and we knew what we wanted to do. What happened was an uncontrollable, but what happened between the four lines was some we could control and that’s where we let it slip.”

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