Stormers halfbacks Damian Willemse and Herschel Jantjies have a point to prove when their Super Rugby Unlocked campaign kicks off against the Lions at Newlands on Saturday.
Die skakelpaar was not at their best in the Springbok Green versus Gold trials two weeks ago, with Willemse, in particular, coming under heavy criticism after a miserable day off the tee saw him miss three kicks while also getting a yellow card.
Jantjies, meanwhile, was outshone by his opposite number Sanele Nohamba as the Cape duo’s Gold team was played off the park.
But Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman is looking at the situation as the glass being half full and backs his halfbacks to bounce back.
He says: “It will be a bit unfair to judge them [Willemse and Jantjies] on one performance – you have to look at what they’ve achieved previously, before lockdown and even for the Springboks.
“It was one day. If you look at their team, they struggled at set piece a bit and were under pressure. That obviously flowed to them as a combination.
“Neither of them were happy with those performances.
“Both are professional and want to be at their best, so I am confident that they will definitely bounce back and have learnt from that experience and put in a good performance.”
It will be the third time in three post-lockdown outings that Willemse will face Lions playmaker Elton Jantjies – with the two teams having faced each other on Super Fan Saturday also – while Jantjies can expect to battle ex-Springbok Ross Cronje.
The Stormers will name their squad for the clash tomorrow.