The Stormers missed a golden opportunity to make a genuine Vodacom URC title statement in Cardiff, writes MARK KEOHANE.
Writing for the Sunday Times, Keohane says the Cape side “fell horribly short” against a Cardiff side playing with greater desperation and urgency.
“The Stormers were woeful and played with the immaturity of a group content to finish third and host a quarter-final in Cape Town.”
Keohane believes the warning signs have been building despite the strong start to the campaign. Eight successive league wins created momentum, but the Stormers have since lost direction and failed to turn dominance into results when it mattered most.
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Cardiff’s desperation exposed those shortcomings. The Welsh side were fighting for survival and played accordingly, while the Stormers lacked the intensity expected from genuine title contenders.
“Cardiff must be applauded for their desperation, desire and fight, but the biggest insult any coach can give his players is to publicly concede that the opposition showed greater desperation than his own players.”
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For Keohane, the consequence is clear.
“I’ve long held the belief that if the Stormers could not go to Belfast and Cardiff and get results, they’d not be winning any semi-final outside of South Africa.”
Photo: Kian Abdullah/Gallo Images
