Stormers captain Siya Kolisi says the team has no excuses not to challenge for a domestic title in Super Rugby Unlocked and the Currie Cup. DYLAN JACK reports.

The Stormers will begin their Super Rugby Unlocked campaign at home on Saturday evening against the Lions after an opening-round  bye.

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Coach John Dobson has named a strong starting lineup – featuring seven capped Springboks including national skipper Kolisi – for the clash.

During the pre-match online media conference on Thursday, Kolisi said he was fired up to finally lift a title in Stormers colours in what will be his ninth season with the team.

‘It’s really important,’ Kolisi said. ‘For every single team that is going to be playing, but for us, that’s what we have decided to focus on. We are not going to shout about it. Sometimes things won’t go our way in the games, but we will still have the same mission, which is to give our best to win this competition.

‘Not just for us, but for everything we have gone through in this stadium and the people who have played here before us and the Newlands faithful.

‘We have let our fans down every single year, especially in Super Rugby. We talk about it openly because you can’t hide from it. It is a fact. We have to do something about it and rectify it.

‘We had how many guys in the [Springbok] Showdown week? We have no excuses anymore. It is all about making sure that with our mindset, we are all in this to win this, no matter what is happening off the field. We are going to focus on what we can do on the field. That is all we can control as players.

‘Hopefully, when the stadium opens, people come in and that’s what they come to see: us winning games. It doesn’t matter whether it is good rugby or not. If we are winning, that is all that we care about right now.’

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images