‘Zero complacency’ for high-riding Stormers

The Stormers scored a record 57 points against the Rebels. Photo: Alejandro Pagni

The Stormers scored a record 57 points against the Rebels. Photo: Alejandro Pagni

Published Jul 5, 2016

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Cape Town - The Stormers may have scored a record 57 points against the Rebels, but the fact that they conceded 31 must be addressed if they hope to beat the Force this weekend.

And that is part of the reason why assistant coach Russell Winter says that there will be “zero complacency” on the Cape side’s part when they run out at the nib Stadium in Perth on Saturday (1.45pm kickoff).

The scoreboard stood at 31-31 with 20 minutes to go following Rebels flyhalf Jack Debreczeni’s try and conversion, but flank Scott Fuglistaller was yellow-carded for collapsing a maul two minutes later, and it spelled the end of the Rebels challenge.

Nic Groom and Damian de Allende scored within two minutes of each other and the Stormers added two further touchdowns through Leolin Zas and Scarra Ntubeni in the last stages of the game to secure a bonus-point triumph despite conceding four tries.

But they may not be as fortunate in Perth, where a Force team filled with former Capetonians will be determined to put one over their ex-teammates. New interim coach Dave Wessels came through the ranks at UCT as a defence coach in the Varsity Cup, while assistant Kevin Foote was the head coach in the Ikeys’ first title success in that competition.

Flyhalf Peter Grant played over 100 games for the Stormers, and wing Marcel Brache made his debut for the Cape franchise in 2014, while there are a number of others involved too who either started their senior career in South Africa or moved to Perth with their families as youngsters.

Wessels replaced Michael Foley during the June break as head coach for the last three games, and the Force nearly pulled off a surprise win over the Cheetahs at the weekend. The home side led 27-10 at halftime in Bloemfontein, but the Force took the lead at 29-27 late in the second half, only to be denied victory by a Fred Zeilinga penalty.

Winter knows that the Force, who are last in the Australian Conference, have nothing to lose and will look to attack the Stormers, so the Capetonians need to shore up their defence. “The Rebels have played good attacking rugby this year and got us vulnerable once or twice. We addressed it at halftime and we also created a lot of turnovers and tried to play an exciting brand, but it also made us leak some tries,” the former Lions No 8 said from Perth on Tuesday.

“Our system has been good – if you look at the stats, we are first or second in terms of least tries conceded (joint-first on 25 with Highlanders and Sharks). I just think the game opened up a bit and they got some tries. When that is the attitude of the two sides, you are going to leak some tries. We realised that we were a little bit weak in some areas of our game, and we worked on it yesterday and today.

“They’ve got a good and solid pack and have a good set-piece. Their scrums came good in the second half against the Cheetahs, and their lineout has functioned well throughout the year.

“There is going to be zero complacency from us, and must just concentrate on our job and better than what we were last week. The Force will try to challenge us at the scrums as it went well for us.”

But one area that did operate smoothly, apart from the powerful scrums, is the lineout. The Stormers have battled at times in that regard, with both Bongi Mbonambi and Scarra Ntubeni blowing hot and cold with throws on attack.

With Springbok locks Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit in fine form, the Stormers won clean ball and also stole a few off the Rebels, something Winter put down to the “preparation and talent of the players”.

Winter said that the Stormers management were thinking of giving Du Toit a break as he has played almost non-stop this season, but it was unlikely to be this weekend as another win should secure top spot in Africa Conference 1 and a home playoff, so next week’s final league game against the Southern Kings looks like an ideal opportunity to rest Du Toit.

With Nizaam Carr out with a shoulder injury, Winter said that the coaches weren’t thinking of moving Du Toit to flank as he has been outstanding in the second row. So Sikhumbuzo Notshe is likely to wear the No 6 jersey on Saturday, with Rynhardt Elstadt the back-up on the bench.

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