Vusi Voetsek: TLC for Cape Town Stadium surface can’t come soon enough

While John Dobson and the Stormers deserve plenty pats on the back and high fives for making a second straight URC final, at home, so, too, do the grounds people deserve a “well done” for no doubt working their butts off to keep the Cape Town Stadium turf together.

How that surface has survived for so long is a minor miracle, but boy, is it in need of some TLC, and thankfully that will come in the off season.

Now I’m no expert in stadium surfaces or what types of grass are best for specific sports, but heck, surely this matter could have been sorted out ahead of this last season?

Then, maybe not, as Western Province and the Stormers only because anchor tenants earlier this year.
Considering how badly the surface breaks up every time there is a rugby match in the stadium it’s quite special the Stormers have been able to play the kind of rugby they have, and score the tries they have.

There was a real close-up of that surface during the Stormers’ win against Connacht last weekend and it’ didn’t look good. But, the good news is a new surface will be laid in July, a 50/50 mix of grass and synthetics.

According to Cape Town Stadium CEO Lesley de Reuck, the grass inside the stadium has been a “handful” to maintain, but the new surface will be a “dream”.

That’s really good news. The new surface should be ready to play on in October.

For now, the current surface has to hold for one more time, when the Stormers host Munster in the URC final next weekend. To help get it into shape and keep it together, the WP bosses have moved two Currie Cup games to Athlone Stadium — not ideal for suit holders, but it’s what is best for the Stormers right now that matters.

Also, well done to the people in charge of the Stormers and WP for keeping the prices of tickets reasonable for the “Grand Final” — as the organisers like to call next week’s match. The cheapest ticket is R80, so that’s also good to hear.

European Cup finals

This weekend is the big European Cup final weekend. Last night we had Glasgow Warriors up against Toulon in the Challenge Cup and today we have Leinster against La Rochelle in the Champions Cup.
These are Europe’s biggest rugby events, just like we’ll have Inter Milan up against Manchester City in the European Champions League final next month.

And this, playing in the Champions Cup final, has to now be the next step for Dobson and his Stormers.
Of course, playing on two fronts (URC and Champions Cup) isn’t easy, and more so when the Currie Cup is factored into the equation, but somehow the Stormers, and the other South African teams playing in the URC, have to step it up next season.

I believe the Stormers are good enough to be serious challengers, and they’ll be even stronger next season, with the 2023 World Cup out of the way, and the players and coaches more experienced.

So, while the Stormers prepare for their big day out next Saturday, I hope the administrators, coaches and players at the Bulls, Lions and Sharks feel a bit left out and thus motivated to return with a bang when the new season kicks off later this year.

For now, we’re all Stormers fans!