Rugby writer Wynona Louw takes a light-hearted look at Saturday’s Super Rugby quarter-final between the Stormers and the Chiefs at Newlands.
Five ways the Stormers can be the chiefs of Newlands:
KILLER SMILE: PART ONE
I think the Stormers’ second row pairing of Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit have been peerless this year. But if there’s a duo that can come close to their lineout prowess, it’s Brodie Retallick and Dominic Bird. The New Zealand pair have been formidable at the set-piece, but I think that all the Stormers need to do is create a bit of a scuffle so that Eben can jump in. \
That I’m-about-to-rough-you-up smile will perhaps be enough to keep the Bird and the Brodie quiet. I mean, if someone grabbed me by the chest and gave me a smile like that, I’d stay away from him, especially in a situation where I’m supposed to contest AGAINST him.
KILLER SMILE: PART TWO
While we’re on the topic of uneasy smiles, Damian McKenzie has one that instils fear in the opposition when he takes a look at the posts before, more often than not, slotting over a penalty kick. Okay, that smile doesn’t exactly bring about fear, more a sinking feeling that points will follow (for the Chiefs, of course).
Maybe Robert du Preez should practise a signature move of his own before Saturday. And, since Dave Rennie’s side probably aren’t very familiar with the flyhalf, the more outlandish the move, the better. They won’t know what to make of it and if he does it well enough his trick can keep the Kiwis scratching their heads even after his goalkicks. Maybe it’ll even confuse them so much that they won’t use that crafty restart kick tactic of theirs.
HAIR-RAISING TACTICS
Let’s stay with McKenzie for a moment. We all know that this guy is potent on attack. His runs and his vision and just his overall awareness make him a real pain. But it’s not just him who’s an attacking threat, it’s basically the whole team. Their sniping runs and clever kicks and offloads (even off the ground) need to be limited.
So I think Saturday will be the perfect time for Kobus van Wyk to sport one of his interesting hairstyles. He’s been looking a little too ordinary of late. And there’s no better time than now to do everything possible to keep the opposition’s eyes off the ball and on his... head.
DANCE, HUWIE, DANCE
Aaron Cruden this week said that the men around the Stormers’ inexperienced flyhalves - Robert du Preez and Brandon Thomson - will have to step up to cover them. And indeed, they are going to have to step up, big time. But Huw Jones doesn’t need to step up any more than he did last week against the Kings.
All he has to do is pack the same boots, I’d pay to see him dancing and stepping around defenders like that again. Damian de Allende also showed a long-awaited return to form last Saturday. And I want to see him keep it there. The way he put his outside men into space and gained metres was grand. As for the wings, more of the same from last week please, more of the same.
WHOOSH, THERE GOES TONI PULU
So Dave Rennie labelled Chiefs wing Toni Pulu the fastest man in New Zealand earlier this year. And he might be right, the guy has mean speed. The Stormers can’t afford any dropped passes or spilt ball anywhere near Pulu, pictured top. So Saturday’s game is one where Damian de Allende really can’t afford to follow Allister Coetzee’s advice too literally and “go low” in the carries.
He’s going to need vision and he needs to protect the ball. Another thing, there should be no upright ball-carrying by the Stormers. Only Rynhardt Elstadt was guilty of this last week, but it shouldn’t happen. Not at all. The Chiefs will snatch that ball from the Stormers quicker than Eddie Jones left them for England and if they get it to Pulu, he’s gone.
Cape Argus