United Rugby Championship (URC) holders, the Stormers, have the opportunity to add another piece of silverware to their glittering cabinet by beating the Sharks this weekend and claiming the South African Shield.

The Stormers currently sit 13 points ahead of the next-placed South African side, the Bulls, and a win against their coastal rivals, combined with a defeat for Jake White’s men, would mean an unassailable lead for the Capetonian side and earn them back-to-back titles.

The Sharks make the trip to the Stormers in Round 15 to run out on a ground the hosts have not lost at for more than 20 games in all competitions.

A derby is a derby

Whilst the imperious home form and winning culture at the Stormers points to a win for them, head coach John Dobson understands that everything changes with a derby.

“It’s important to reinforce how proud we are as a group of the current home run that we’re on, which exceeds 20 successive wins in all competitions, and to continue this sequence adds to the motivation every time we play at DHL Stadium,” Dobson wrote in his column on the Stormers’ official website.

“But we take nothing for granted and a derby is a derby, and a very different manner of clash. Our focus this week is being true to our value systems and simply working hard and showing respect to the Cell C Sharks.”

It is this calm, respectful nature of Dobson, who recently signed a four-year extension, that has guided the team to great success. In the past, sport has seen unlikely champions tumble from the summit after a season of brilliance but not this Stormers team.

The Capetonians ensured one very important aspect of most successful sides; keep winning at home. The rest can work itself out off that platform, and the Stormers have done that with a spot in the Champions Cup round of 16 and second on the URC table.

Positive future

The union continues to grow and develop with young talents such as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Suleiman Hartzenberg and Imad Khan breaking through.

Adding to the positivity this week was confirmation of the team being the anchor tenant at Cape Town Stadium for the next 99 years.

Part of the news means the surface will be re-laid between URC seasons to finally put an end to the turf tearing up at almost every scrum.

The ball is in the Stormers’ court, and one more win can make all the difference for Dobson’s men.

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The article United Rugby Championship: The Stormers can claim back-to-back South African Shields THIS weekend appeared first on Planetrugby.com.