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Kolisi: It is 'personal' for the Stormers

The Stormers have won 25 of their last 30 home games against South African opposition, but the Lions a had the wood on the Stormers in recent years.

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The Lions have not lost to the Stormers in Super Rugby since 2015, while the Johannesburg-based franchise are unbeaten against all South African teams in their last 12 matches – going back to May 2015.Kolisi: It is 'personal' for the Stormers

However, it is the 22-29 loss to the Lions in Johannesburg last year and a 19-all draw at Newlands the year before that still rankles with the Stormers.

The Stormers, the country's form team, believe they will have to deliver with the same intensity and tempo against the Lions that saw them beat the Chiefs last wee.

Captain Siya Kolisi listed the "collisions" and his team's "workrate" are key areas on Saturday's big derby.

"Workrate is what won us the game against the Chiefs [last week] and that is why we worked hard again this week," Kolisi said.

The Stormers also outmuscled a very physical Chiefs pack and the captain feels his team will be up for whatever the Lions throw at them.

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"They [the Lions] play a similar style rugby to the Chiefs and we are going to be tested in the same way as we were tested last week.

"However, this week is a little bit more personal.

"It is a South African derby and there will be some personal battles.

"But, most important, we haven't won against them in Super Rugby for a while.

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"So for us, this game is as big as last week, if not bigger."

By Jan de Koning

@king365ed

@rugby365com

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