Stormers coach John Dobson has sounded a warning over Harlequins ahead of Sunday’s Investec Champions Cup clash at The Stoop.
The London-based club suffered heavy losses to Bristol, Sale and Northampton in the English Premiership, but Dobson said Quins’ decision to shift their focus towards Europe was telling.
“When you play against desperate teams, they’re always the most dangerous. There’s no better motivation than desperation – whether it’s your job, pride or your season on the line. That’s a real threat for us.
“After the Sale loss, they said the Premiership had settled and they were going to focus on Europe. That told us everything we needed to know. When they turn it on, they’re right up there with the best teams in the world.”
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The Stormers have selected what Dobson described as their strongest possible side, featuring three centurions and five Springboks, with loosehead prop Oli Kebble set to make his 50th appearance for the club.
“Oli is a special character in this group,” Dobson said. “He’s a leader on and off the field, incredibly popular, and still has a big contribution to make. You don’t get many 132kg players with that level of athleticism.”
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The Stormers’ preparation had to be altered due to the travelling schedule while factoring in the icy conditions in the UK.
“You can’t really do high-speed training, which is a big part of our training, normally on the Wednesday, and then fly the same day,” said Dobson. “We did that a couple of years ago before we went to Connacht and two guys got injured and were unable to recover on the long-haul flight. So this week was very much a down week in terms of training.”
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Nevertheless, Damian Willemse, who will captain the Stormers from inside centre, said the team’s preparation has been thorough.
“We had a really good week,” he said. “The coaches were clear with the plans, and the detail was sharp from Monday. By the time we got on the plane, the team felt ready.”
Willemse said his focus as captain would be on leading through performance.
“My job this weekend is to lead with my actions. I’ve played away from home before, and it’s about doing your primary job well and setting the tone.”
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The 26-year-old expects a physical contest, particularly in the set-piece and aerial battle.
“We know what Harlequins can do if they get momentum. But our focus is on our processes, playing for each other and making the team and Cape Town proud.”
Photo: Dave Winter/INPHO
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