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Rowntree's URC final warning for the Stormers
A record crowd of more than 47,000 saw the DHL Stormers comprehensively overcome Connacht but you can expect that figure to be swelled even further when Cape Town hosts what can only be described as a dream Vodacom United Rugby Championship final a fortnight from now.
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After the Stormers completed their victory, their coach John Dobson wasn’t holding much hope of Munster giving his team a hand by beating Leinster at the Aviva Stadium to set up a home final. Everything he said at the post-match press conference came across as an acceptance that the semi-final had been his team’s last home game of the season.
However three hours later the Stormers were celebrating in one of the stadium’s hospitality suites with a gusto that might just have been heard at the Aviva as Jack Crowley’s dropped-goal with less than three minutes remaining clinched Munster an epic victory.
Last year’s final was also played in Cape Town, with the Stormers winning the inaugural URC title by beating their arch rivals, the Vodacom Bulls. However, that crowd was limited to just 31,000 due to the Covid restrictions in place at the time which set a maximum attendance of 50 per cent capacity.
This time there are no restrictions and tickets are sure to go quickly once they go on sale as not only have the past two Saturdays proved an enjoyable experience for Cape rugby fans, the decider also just happens to pit the Stormers against the only team to have beaten them at home this season. Indeed, the only team to have beaten them since December 2021.
Ever since they surrendered their home unbeaten record to Munster in what was a pulsating and tight game that was a great advertisement for what the URC has to offer, the Stormers have spoken about how they’d love to set the record straight. Now they get their opportunity.
It will also be the third in what has been a sequence of farewells for the popular Stormers captain Steven Kitshoff, with each play-off game the Stormers have played so far being set up beforehand as their last appearance at home for the 2022/23 season. But this time it will definitely be the most capped Stormers player of all-time’s farewell, for the 27 May game is the decider and the trophy will be on the line.
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The Stormers had been impacted by a hectic travel schedule when the two teams squared up in mid-April so the Cape team will be confident. In fact, both teams should feel good as they have two weeks to prepare for the final as the tournament breaks for next weekend’s Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals in Dublin.
One thing the Stormers will know for sure though is that Munster will come to Cape Town on a mission, and if there was any doubt, the Munster coach Graham Rowntree erased that with his post-match comments at the Aviva.
“We’re in a final, lads. I said to the group in the week that 25 days ago we were paranoid about European qualification (because of the log position), but then we got to a semi-final, and now we are in a final,” said the former England prop.
“Our game is still growing. We are finding out about people. Pete (O’Mahony) spoke really well in the dressing room about this not being our final tonight. We go to Cape Town with belief. This group won’t give in and we have come through some fires in the last few weeks. We go to Cape Town and it will be our sixth away game on the bounce, and that’s when we are finding out about people.
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“We are tough and we are battle-hardened, so I was never feeling hopeless. This team won’t go away,” he added.
Munster do have an impressive away record and they have shown impressive resilience. After being thumped in the Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 tie by the Cell C Sharks, Munster returned to South Africa to play the Sharks again and the Stormers in their final two URC league matches and they ended their mini-tour unbeaten. The resolve and determination that Rowntree referred to was writ large when the Irish province came back from a 22-3 deficit against the Sharks to draw 22-all.
Subsequent to that they have won a quarterfinal in Glasgow and now an away semi against Leinster and with two weeks to prepare for the final and get to Cape Town, the final will be played on a relatively even playing field. The Stormers, since losing to Munster, have beaten Benetton in their final league game, the Bulls by 12 points in the quarter and Connacht by 18 in the semi.
Source: URCSA
Comments on RugbyPass
You ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
35 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
5 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
35 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
5 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
5 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
10 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
5 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
35 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
10 Go to commentsWowee!
10 Go to commentsEvery team that has played a game in Africa this Champions Cup season is already out of the competition - including the SA teams. Could be a concidence.
30 Go to commentsthat should offer some experiences for Jordie.
10 Go to commentsJust remember: He is not a winger. Took Ian Foster 2 years to figure that out.
10 Go to commentsExcellent article, Nick. We (your RP colleague Brett McKay and my 8/9 Combo cohost), are going to have LSL on our podcast later this month. He has shown consistent excellence as a leader and lock. I’ll chat with you offline about a line of questioning if you have time. H
35 Go to commentsSo no Irish fan or journalist suggested JGP was as good as DuPont. Then even the guy who supposedly did is from Wales and said JGP would be the best around if it was t for DuPont. Right, so what is this story about again
21 Go to comments