The Stormers will use the pain of their Loftus hammering by the Bulls to drive their improvement.
Robbie Fleck on Saturday said his side had an off day as they were trampled 40-3 in their Super Rugby opener.
No aspect of the game was on point, with lineouts going awry, the backline failing to threaten and being overpowered at the contact points.
And Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman says Fleck was just about right in that his team got nothing right.
Snyman says: “It’s almost seemed like everything went wrong.
DRIVE: Dawie Snyman. Photo: CHRIS RICCO/BACKPAGEPIX
“It wasn’t just the lineout, or just our contact play or just the options that we took on attack.
“It’s where we made mistakes. We made mistakes on the next mistake. And that put us under pressure.
“And obviously the Bulls were really good on the day, even though we were nowhere near our best.”
After taking stock of their nightmare, the Cape side are channelling that frustration into making sure they don’t get thunderstruck when they face the Lions in their second derby in a row.
Friday’s clash at Newlands represents a chance for Fleck and his players to get a win on the board in the South African conference after all their compatriots won at the weekend.
FIT AGAIN: Young Juarno Augustus carries the ball. Photo: CHRIS RICCO/BACKPAGEPIX
And Snyman says he can see the players channelling that frustration at training.
He adds: “In the meetings, the guys said it was all going to start in their preparations. There is still a bit of an edge around the training ground and the frustration.
“And you can see the guys want to prove themselves and put things right which they did wrong on Saturday.
“So there is aggression to what we want to achieve this Saturday against the Lions.”
IN LINE FOR DEBUT: Speedster Sergeal Petersen. Photo: CHRIS RICCO/BACKPAGEPIX
Snyman reveals that lock yster Eben Etzebeth will not be ready for the game and needs another week and that winger Seabelo Senatla has a dislocated a finger which is keeping him out.
But the Stormers will be boosted by the return of No.8 Juarno Augustus and Springbok prop Frans Malherbe.
Winger Sergeal Petersen is also in line to make his Super Rugby debut this weekend.