Play-offs spot unlikely for Fleck’s men

Rudolph Jacobs

The Stormers have left themselves with a near impossible task to reach the Super Rugby play-offs after their shock 26-23 defeat to the Sunwolves in Hong Kong at the weekend.

It was the Stormers’ seventh straight away defeat, while the Sunwolves recorded rare back-toback wins after they beat the Reds 63-28 the previous week.

The Western Cape side decided to try and slow the pace of the game because of the extreme humid conditions, but captain Chris van Zyl (left) admitted the plan had not really succeeded.

“We are obviously gutted with the result, but credit to the Sunwolves. They played really well,” Van Zyl said.

With just three minutes left, the Stormers led 23-20, but a late penalty by flyhalf Hayden Parker and an 84th minute drop-goal sank Robbie Fleck’s men.

“It was extremely humid conditions, but both teams were confronted by that, so that’s no excuse,” Van Zyl said.

“It’s been a good experience in Hong Kong but the team were very disappointed by the defeat.”

Sunwolves captain Willie Britz credited Parkes for his heroics and the rest of the team who never gave up the fight.

“We call him (Parkes) the guy with the golden boot and he has never missed in Japan. Hong Kong is now another home field for us, where he has also not missed,” Britz said.