'Desire and attitude' won it for Chiefs

Chiefs captain Sam Cane, speaking after their victory at Newlands at the weekend, said that when it comes to play-offs it is more about "will and desire".

"It wasn't pretty or some of the best footy we have played, but the desire and attitude are what won it for us," Cane told a post-match media briefing.

"You can work on other things, but that is something inside the boys," he said of his team's drive for success.

The Chiefs have reached the play-offs every year for the past five years, but last won in 2013.

Coach Dave Rennie also spoke of his team's drive, especially on defence, to overcome the seemingly insurmountable odds.

"It wasn't pretty and turned into an arm-wrestle," Rennie said of the weekend's Newlands outing.

"However, we got the job done on the back of some pretty impressive defence.

"We are really happy with our defence, [because] that was finals footy.

"Maybe both sides battled a little because of the quality of the defence.

"The last time we played them here [at Newlands] the Stormers were pretty good with the ball in hand," he said of their 26-34 loss in a Round Seven fixture back in April.

"We were well aware we needed to shut them down [in the semifinal]."

Cane also dismissed the suggestion that he head-high shoulder charge on Stormers wing Dillyn Leyds on the hour mark – for which he was yellow carded – was deliberate.

"The game happens really quickly and it was unintentional," Cane said.

"I did not realise I had come into contact with his jaw until it was shown on the big screen.

"However, that is the way the rules are."

By Jan de Koning, at Newlands

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