Assistant coach Norman Laker is confident that the DHL Stormers can match the physical threat of champions La Rochelle when the teams lock horns in Cape Town on Saturday.

Led by France No 8 Gregory Aldritt and coached by Ronan O’Gara, La Rochelle are set to put the Stormers through the pressures of a Test match in a crunch Champions Cup playoff at Cape Town Stadium.

The Stormers and La Rochelle lock horns in a replay of their 16 December meeting at the same venue, won by the Capetonians who earned the right to host a last-16 tie for the second successive season after finishing second in Pool 4.

Emphasising the Stormers’ own formidable physical presence during a media conference on Tuesday, Laker dismissed any notion of fear. Recalling their resilience in previous matches, he highlighted their ability to dominate even in the late stages of games.

While acknowledging La Rochelle’s size advantage, Laker insisted that the Stormers match up well, citing their own talents like Damian Willemse.

“Our guys are physical themselves and get in. We win games in the 75th and 82nd minutes because we’re a physical team,” the defence coach told reporters.

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“Yes, La Rochelle is a team with big guys. Their inside centre [Jonathan Danty] carries the ball well and there are world-class players, but the same applies to us. If I said that Damian Willemse is less physical than his direct opponent, I would be lying to myself. We are also a very physical team.”

Reflecting on the December encounter, particularly the turnover struggles against La Rochelle’s Levani Botia, Laker stressed the need for a collective effort to nullify threats. He respects Botia’s prowess while highlighting the need for a team-wide approach to counter him.

“If you target one man, there will be a gap for another. Whoever is across from him just needs to make sure they take him away decently and don’t give him the opportunity to get to the next breakdown,” Laker explained.

“But Botia is world class. That’s like saying you’re going to neutralise Deon Fourie. He’s just going to find another way and way to make himself a burden at the next breakdown point.”

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

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