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Stormers keep the faith

Stormers keep the faith

05/28/2010 08:44:05 PM

Allister Coetzee has called on his Stormers players to 'embrace the opportunity' the Super 14 final will present them when they come up against the Bulls in Soweto on Sunday morning (NZT).

The Cape Town franchise is venturing into uncharted territory having never previously made it beyond the last four.

Having beaten the Waratahs at Newlands last weekend, the odds are now stacked against them winning a first title with their opponents boasting a record second to none in recent seasons.

The Pretoria unit is the defending champion and in the final for the third time in the last four years, while it boasts an impeccable home record – it is unbeaten since defeat against the Hurricanes in 2008.

"We are excited to play in the final of this competition and we want to embrace this occasion," Coetzee said. "We want to throw the kitchen sink at it."

"There's everything to play for but we're under no illusion that we're playing against a hell of a good side, but we've left no stone unturned to be well prepared."

"If you want to make your mark for yourself in South African rugby then you don't get a better opponent than the Bulls."

"We have to embrace this opportunity. It's a fantastic climax to a great opportunity."

There is cause for optimism for the Stormers coach, with the game not being played at his opponent's fortress Loftus Versfeld Stadium, but instead the Orlando Stadium in Soweto, a township in Johannesburg.

Nonetheless, Frans Ludeke's men have already gained one emphatic win there - the 39-24 semi-final triumph over seven-time winners the Crusaders last week.

But Coetzee has warned their cross-country rivals they will not be just there to make up the numbers.

He added: "We will be labelled the underdogs and rightly so."

"We are playing against the best franchise in the southern hemisphere for the last few seasons and the defending champions."

"But we believe in our systems and the team. So we are going there to compete for gold, not simply to run the race."

"We are well prepared and we're going there to do a job."

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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