Stormers pack relish facing Stade Francais
Stormers front-row forward Ali Vermaak will be relishing the scrum situation when they face Stade Francais this weekend.
When the Stormers take on Stade Francais in their crucial Challenge Cup match this weekend, seasoned front-row forward Ali Vermaak will be relishing the scrum situation.
Stade Francais, a proud team, will want to end their competition on a good note in front of their home fans at the Stade Jean Bouin on Saturday, even if they are winless overall and now wallow at the bottom of Pool Four’s rankings.
STORMERS PACK RELISH CHALLENGE
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One area Stade Francais have been strong is in the scrum and Vermaak wants to test himself against the best.
“One of the most significant opportunities offered by all the competitions we’re playing in, is that one is able to measure and compare yourself against some of the best props in the world who are, literally, of all shapes and sizes,” Vermaak said.
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“It is no secret that props become a lot harder and tougher to scrum against as they reach their 30s. And with props normally being replaced between 45 and 60 minutes, you need to be on top of your game if you don’t want to be caught on skates when it comes to scrum time.”
THE HABIT OF WINNING
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Vermaak feels that the Stormers have gotten back into the habit of winning after a sluggish start to their campaign.
“We all have realised over the years that winning is a habit, and so is losing,” Vermaak explained.
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“To us as a group playing in different formats, it is very important to maintain that culture and winning momentum.
“The Sale Sharks established themselves as one of the top teams in England this year, so to beat them here in Cape Town was simply non-negotiable.”
Despite high-profile departures, the Stormers scrum remains solid and Vermaak attributes this to the team environment.
“I think it is a combination of things. Having the opportunity to discuss certain techniques on a daily basis with some of the world’s best players in your position, makes life a lot easier,” Vermaak revealed.
“Since we’ve been playing together for a few years now, communication during training or games has become a lot easier in terms of understanding and rectification within a short timeframe.”