When the Stormers won the 2022 United Rugby Championship, Leolin Zas was one of their key playmakers, and the deadly wing says his embattled team will strike back in the current tournament.
The Stormers have returned home from a troubled tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland, and Zas feels that they are relishing Saturday’s home game against 2023 champions Munster (6pm kick-off).
Zas scored two tries in the Stormers’ bonus-point victory over Zebre two weeks ago, and he dotted down against the Ospreys.
In the 2022 campaign, Zas nailed 11 tries to finish as the tournament’s top try-scorer.
“We’ve been here before,” the 28-year-old said of his team’s disappointing start to the URC.
“Over the last two seasons, we have tended to bounce back. Last season, we lost four games in a row, and we only got one win on tour in the first season.”
Zas attributes the Stormers’ resilience to the tight coaching structure under the popular John Dobson.
“The coaches must get plenty of credit. Even though the tour didn’t go our way, we know why. But we still have the freedom to express ourselves on the pitch,” Zas said.
“We know what to work on. The good thing is that it’s in our system and our control.”
Zas said that there is no need to panic after a tour that was unsatisfactory in terms of results, including last week’s 38-7 loss to Edinburgh in Scotland.
“This is only the third game of the season. We just need to be patient. It will come,” he said.
“We’ve been in this position before and we will keep calm. Once the ball starts to stick for us, we will be up there again. That is how the game goes.”
Zas said the Stormers would be boosted by seeing their loved ones after time on the road.
“It’s been good to see the family and just get a hug. It’s also good to sleep in your bed for once,” he said.
This week, the Stormers will be hunting their first win over Munster. They have never beaten the team that prevailed in last year’s final in Cape Town.
Some breathtaking moments in our @Vodacom #URC battles with Munster. More to come at DHL Stadium on Saturday. #STOvMUN #iamastormer #dhldelivers pic.twitter.com/jjQds0vGuv
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) October 15, 2024
“The guys are very calm. We aren’t living in the past. What has happened has happened,” Zas said.
“We are just focusing on Saturday. It was a tough loss against Edinburgh, but we are up for this game.”