Damian Willemse has called on his DHL Stormers teammates to embrace the pressure of a last-16 Champions Cup tie against La Rochelle in Cape Town. DYLAN JACK reports.

The DHL Stormers will host two-time defending champions La Rochelle in the round of 16 on Saturday, having successfully come through what many deemed to be the ‘Pool of Death’.

Drawn with La Rochelle, eight-time URC winners Leinster, 2022 Premiership winners Leicester Tigers, current Top 14 leaders Stade Francais and an up-and-coming Sale Sharks team, the Stormers were up against it to get out of their pool.

However, after a second-string side suffered a heartbreaking loss to Leicester, the Stormers bounced back by snatching a last-minute victory over La Rochelle at home, convincingly beating Sale Sharks and holding on for a win in tough conditions against Stade Francais in Paris.

“I am just super proud about what we’ve done in this competition,” Willemse said. “We went to Welford Road and got great confidence going into the next game.

“We came home and beat La Rochelle right at the end. We got over the hurdle against Sale Sharks and then we went to Paris, which was really tough in that time of winter. We won that game as well and that’s the confidence we can take.

“This is a round of 16 game, this is knockout round. It’s pressure. It’s all about how we as a team manage that pressure and come up with solutions.

“It’s a massive occasion. We can’t look at it and not have fun. That’s what we do as the Stormers. We go out and play to the best of our ability, but we also go and have fun. We can’t just be under pressure, we need to enjoy ourselves.”

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La Rochelle boast a team oozing with Test match quality, led by France No 8 Gregory Aldritt, who captains a pack including giant Australian lock Will Skelton and 145kg French tighthead Uini Atonio.

There are two former Stormers in La Rochelle’s backline in Dillyn Leyds and Raymond Rhule, while France centre Jonathan Danty is available for selection after completing the ban he received during the Six Nations.

“They are a very well-coached, talented side,” Willemse said. “They can keep the ball and can take you on physically. They can counter attack with their outside backs.

“They have Danty, who carries very well. Then they’ve got Raymond, Jack Nowell or Dillyn at the back, or Brice Dulin. They’ve got everything in their artilery.

“This is not a pool game. This is a round of 16, so there is going to be pressure and tight moments, that we need to be ready for and sharp.

“They have got more experience than us, in terms of playing in this competition, but we are just making sure that we are prepared for whatever comes on Saturday.”

Photo: Cruickshank/Gallo Images

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