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Stephen Nell
Cape Town - The Stormers have no preference for a semi-final opponent in next Saturday's clash at Newlands, but certainly wouldn't mind another crack at the Crusaders.
Win Stormers semi-final tickets
New Zealand's leading side beat the Stormers 20-14 at Newlands earlier this year and the Cape side's backline coach, Robbie Fleck, has said that the team would "love another opportunity" of playing them.
"There is no doubt that we were disappointed and frustrated at our last performance against the Crusaders. We felt that the Reds were the only team that really outplayed us in the league phase," said Fleck.
"We wasted our chances against the Crusaders. We had two or three opportunities with the maul at the end, but could not capitalise."
What Fleck is not allowed to say is that the match will also be remembered for a weak performance by Kiwi referee Chris Pollock.
Refereeing bosses admitted after the game that the Stormers should have been awarded a try after Dewaldt Duvenage had intercepted a quick throw-in by Crusaders captain Kieran Read and touched down. Pollock did not allow the try.
Read's one foot was in play with the throw, but the advantage law was supposed to apply even if the throw-in had been illegal.
Pollock's unwillingness to take firm action against the Crusaders when they repeatedly transgressed in stopping the Stormers' maul also influenced the result.
Fortunately for the Stormers there is no prospect of Pollock refereeing one of their games again this season. Craig Joubert has been appointed as the referee for the Newlands semi-final, while Bryce Lawrence will referee the final.
The Stormers had a bad experience with Joubert in last year's final, but the air has subsequently been cleared and on Wednesday Fleck said that he was an "excellent referee".
"We have definitely chatted to Craig about the way we want to play since that final and hope that we see the breakdown in a similar way. The team has come a long way since that final," said Fleck.
Fleck considers the Blues and Crusaders as favourites to win their quarter-finals this week. The Blues play the Waratahs in Auckland on Friday morning, while the Crusaders and Sharks clash in Nelson on Saturday.
"My money would have been on the Waratahs before they got all those injuries," said Fleck.
The Waratahs are without leading players such as scrumhalf Luke Burgess, centre Berrick Barnes, prop Al Baxter and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau.
"I still think it will be close, but the Blues have home advantage and are finding their feet in the tournament again."
As far as the Sharks are concerned, Fleck is of the view that the travel to New Zealand, combined with the quality of the opponent, will make it a "tough one" for the South African side.
"It may just be too much to ask."
Cape Town - The Stormers have no preference for a semi-final opponent in next Saturday's clash at Newlands, but certainly wouldn't mind another crack at the Crusaders.
Win Stormers semi-final tickets
New Zealand's leading side beat the Stormers 20-14 at Newlands earlier this year and the Cape side's backline coach, Robbie Fleck, has said that the team would "love another opportunity" of playing them.
"There is no doubt that we were disappointed and frustrated at our last performance against the Crusaders. We felt that the Reds were the only team that really outplayed us in the league phase," said Fleck.
"We wasted our chances against the Crusaders. We had two or three opportunities with the maul at the end, but could not capitalise."
What Fleck is not allowed to say is that the match will also be remembered for a weak performance by Kiwi referee Chris Pollock.
Refereeing bosses admitted after the game that the Stormers should have been awarded a try after Dewaldt Duvenage had intercepted a quick throw-in by Crusaders captain Kieran Read and touched down. Pollock did not allow the try.
Read's one foot was in play with the throw, but the advantage law was supposed to apply even if the throw-in had been illegal.
Pollock's unwillingness to take firm action against the Crusaders when they repeatedly transgressed in stopping the Stormers' maul also influenced the result.
Fortunately for the Stormers there is no prospect of Pollock refereeing one of their games again this season. Craig Joubert has been appointed as the referee for the Newlands semi-final, while Bryce Lawrence will referee the final.
The Stormers had a bad experience with Joubert in last year's final, but the air has subsequently been cleared and on Wednesday Fleck said that he was an "excellent referee".
"We have definitely chatted to Craig about the way we want to play since that final and hope that we see the breakdown in a similar way. The team has come a long way since that final," said Fleck.
Fleck considers the Blues and Crusaders as favourites to win their quarter-finals this week. The Blues play the Waratahs in Auckland on Friday morning, while the Crusaders and Sharks clash in Nelson on Saturday.
"My money would have been on the Waratahs before they got all those injuries," said Fleck.
The Waratahs are without leading players such as scrumhalf Luke Burgess, centre Berrick Barnes, prop Al Baxter and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau.
"I still think it will be close, but the Blues have home advantage and are finding their feet in the tournament again."
As far as the Sharks are concerned, Fleck is of the view that the travel to New Zealand, combined with the quality of the opponent, will make it a "tough one" for the South African side.
"It may just be too much to ask."
