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Stephen Nell
Cape Town - The goal of establishing a winning culture in Western Province has been achieved, but being crowned as champions of the Southern Hemisphere is now the aim.
Rassie Erasmus, director of coaching at WP, this week praised the work ethic that has once again made rugby in the Cape a source of pride for local supporters.
"From Steph Nel and Jacques Hanekom at the Rugby Institute in Stellenbosch, through to Allister Coetzee as senior coach, there is a strong work ethic. Everybody deserves to be proud," said Erasmus.
'We have also had a special relationship with out sponsor, DHL, this year. The team did not have to wait for their luggage at the airport when we went on tour. The players handed in their luggage on the Thursday prior to us leaving on tour and it was there waiting in their hotel rooms on arrival. The only thing they had to carry with them was their hand luggage. Not having to stand around at airports certainly helped us combat jet lag.
"There was good co-operation in WP. When I arrived here it initially felt as if everybody was on their own mission, but there is good teamwork now and I believe the results are showing it."
The Stormers have managed to get a home semi-final for the second year running in Super Rugby, while WP hosted a Currie Cup semi-final in 2009 and made the final last year.
Last year the WP under-19 and under-21 teams were also crowned provincial champions - an indication that the focus on establishing good junior structures has worked.
A number of players that came through the WP Institute also made their debuts in Super Rugby this year. They include rising stars such as lock Rynhardt Elstadt, tighthead prop Frans Malherbe, centre Johann Sadie and wing Danie Poolman.
The Stormers have already won the trophy as South African conference winners - they won 7 out of 8 local derbies - which makes them the leading side in South Africa.
"The Springboks won’t be playing in the Currie Cup this year. We have to measure ourselves by South African standards and the derby games in the Super Rugby tournament was a case of strength versus strength. We were very competitive. There were two games against every other South African team and we only lost once," said Erasmus.
Even so, there has still been a feeling of so near yet so far at WP in recent seasons. That thirst could only be quenched by winning a major tournament.
The Stormers have already finished second in a Super Rugby tournament and Currie Cup.
"I do think we achieved something by winning the South African conference, but that is not the reason why we are playing in the competition," said Erasmus.
"The winning culture is really important, but we need to bring a big trophy to the Cape - the Super Rugby championship or the Currie Cup. One really yearns after that and we have not been able to do it in the last two or three years, but there was also a drought in the preceding eight years!"
There will always be great value attached to the Currie Cup for sentimental reasons. It's a tournament that will pose unique challenges to big unions in the future as the participation of leading Springboks is likely to be increasingly limited.
The Super Rugby conference format now offers a true reflection of where rugby strength in a country is concentrated.
However, the hunger for success will only really be satisfied if the Stormers are be crowned as champions of the Southern Hemisphere over the next two Saturdays.
Cape Town - The goal of establishing a winning culture in Western Province has been achieved, but being crowned as champions of the Southern Hemisphere is now the aim.
Rassie Erasmus, director of coaching at WP, this week praised the work ethic that has once again made rugby in the Cape a source of pride for local supporters.
"From Steph Nel and Jacques Hanekom at the Rugby Institute in Stellenbosch, through to Allister Coetzee as senior coach, there is a strong work ethic. Everybody deserves to be proud," said Erasmus.
'We have also had a special relationship with out sponsor, DHL, this year. The team did not have to wait for their luggage at the airport when we went on tour. The players handed in their luggage on the Thursday prior to us leaving on tour and it was there waiting in their hotel rooms on arrival. The only thing they had to carry with them was their hand luggage. Not having to stand around at airports certainly helped us combat jet lag.
"There was good co-operation in WP. When I arrived here it initially felt as if everybody was on their own mission, but there is good teamwork now and I believe the results are showing it."
The Stormers have managed to get a home semi-final for the second year running in Super Rugby, while WP hosted a Currie Cup semi-final in 2009 and made the final last year.
Last year the WP under-19 and under-21 teams were also crowned provincial champions - an indication that the focus on establishing good junior structures has worked.
A number of players that came through the WP Institute also made their debuts in Super Rugby this year. They include rising stars such as lock Rynhardt Elstadt, tighthead prop Frans Malherbe, centre Johann Sadie and wing Danie Poolman.
The Stormers have already won the trophy as South African conference winners - they won 7 out of 8 local derbies - which makes them the leading side in South Africa.
"The Springboks won’t be playing in the Currie Cup this year. We have to measure ourselves by South African standards and the derby games in the Super Rugby tournament was a case of strength versus strength. We were very competitive. There were two games against every other South African team and we only lost once," said Erasmus.
Even so, there has still been a feeling of so near yet so far at WP in recent seasons. That thirst could only be quenched by winning a major tournament.
The Stormers have already finished second in a Super Rugby tournament and Currie Cup.
"I do think we achieved something by winning the South African conference, but that is not the reason why we are playing in the competition," said Erasmus.
"The winning culture is really important, but we need to bring a big trophy to the Cape - the Super Rugby championship or the Currie Cup. One really yearns after that and we have not been able to do it in the last two or three years, but there was also a drought in the preceding eight years!"
There will always be great value attached to the Currie Cup for sentimental reasons. It's a tournament that will pose unique challenges to big unions in the future as the participation of leading Springboks is likely to be increasingly limited.
The Super Rugby conference format now offers a true reflection of where rugby strength in a country is concentrated.
However, the hunger for success will only really be satisfied if the Stormers are be crowned as champions of the Southern Hemisphere over the next two Saturdays.
