Stormers fullback Warrick Gelant (with ball) runs in his try against the Bulls. Photo: HENK KRUGER Independent Media
While they struggled in certain aspects of the game in the North-South Derby, the Stormers showed plenty of fight against the Bulls last weekend to make their hosts of this weekend take note of them.
Independent Media Sport looks at five areas of their game the Cape side had to tidy up before facing the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday (2.30pm start)....
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Solidifying their scrums
The possible return of Neethling Fouché and Ali Vermaak should stabilise their scrums, especially after being overshadowed by the Bulls for a big part of the North-South Derby.
Fouché would’ve started against the Bulls, but a head knock ruled him out.
So, it will be interesting if the Stormers will parachute the tighthead into the No 3 jersey in place of Frans Malherbe.
They need his power against the Lionsé scrum. But it’s on the loosehead side where Vermaak could best Asenathi Ntlabakanye. They can’t afford to concede the amount of scrum penalties like they did last weekend.
Protecting the breakdown
Another sore point for the Capetonians against the Bulls. Just when they were on the attack and looking to get the ball to their backline, a jackler would poach possession and halt their momentum.
The Lions possess a bunch of adequate breakdown specialists, and they will be all too hungry to pounce on any unprotected balls after a tackle.
With a predicted free-flowing game – something both sides will encourage – the Stormers must use their big forwards to keep their possession protected at the tackle area. Deon Fourie will also be vital to generate turnovers at the breakdown when the Lions are attacking.
Slotting those kicks
Points will be vital, and if it comes to the last kick, so the Stormers player aiming for goal must ensure he slots it.
They can’t afford another game where they miss a total of four kicks at goal like against the Bulls, where three of them were regulation kicks. There will be plenty of opportunities for points, even from 50-plus metres out.
If Jurie Matthee is entrusted with the responsibility off the tee, he should embrace the Ellis Park pressure and show what he can do. He has slotted difficult kicks before, and the Cape side will hope he will bring his A-game off the tee in Johannesburg.
Securing their lineouts
Once a pillar of the Stormers’ game-plan, they have been losing their touch in this aspect of the game over the last couple of encounters. Somehow the opposition finds it easier than ever to contest on the lineout throw of the Cape outfit. The number of overthrows occurring has also been a slight concern of late.
While JD Schickerling will be missed as their primary lineout caller, they have a couple of other excellent locks that must take over the task. Ruben van Heerden had that task a season or two ago, and did a superb job. They’ll have to find that rhythm again, and soon.
Attacking accuracy
Yes, they are missing some lethal attackers in the backline, including flyhalf Manie Libbok and utility backs Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse, but that is not an excuse for their inaccuracy at the back, especially when they run with the ball.
That fluidity that’s normally there has been missing for a couple of games, but as attack coach Dawie Snyman said this week, things are starting to come together, with Warrick Gelant scoring a superb try against the Bulls.
But they will have to improve a lot more, especially with their accuracy, if they want to reach that attacking style they exhibited in the first two seasons of the URC.
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