The Stormers have a well-deserved bye this weekend after a promising start to their Super Rugby campaign, with four wins and a single defeat.
We look back on their first five matches of 2015 to inspect what’s working and what’s not working for the Cape franchise. We also look at the in-form players and those who need to pull up their socks ahead of their four-match tour of Australasia.
WHAT’S WORKING
The scrums
The Stormers have surprised friend and foe with their scrumming power so far this season. The Stormers have forced a plethora of penalties, which they have either converted into points or good field position. The Cape side have been especially dangerous on the opposition’s ball and have hooked about five or six tightheads so far this season. Props Vincent Koch and Steven Kitshoff have been superb, but hooker Scarra Ntubeni’s scrumming and hooking has also been a major boost for the Stormers.
Goal kicking
The Stormers’ goal kickers have been deadly accurate in the first five matches. Flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis has only missed four times in 21 attempts at goal, while he also leads the competition with the most penalty kicks – 17. Kurt Coleman, who made his start for the Stormers this season last Saturday against the Chiefs, has missed twice from his nine attempts. The range of these two kickers has improved a lot, and both can be match-winners when it comes to slotting crucial goals.
Tackling
Besides last weekend’s shambles against the Chiefs, the Stormers have actually been really good on defence. They missed just 49 tackles in their previous four matches, and have showed plenty of attitude on defence. Their gang tackling has also stopped the momentum of some of their opposition’s big runners. However, the Chiefs steppers were two hot to handle in the second half at a sweltering Newlands on Saturday, and the Stormers ended up missing a whopping 28 tackles, the joint-highest of the fifth round along with the Melbourne Rebels.
What’s not working
Kicking out of hand
The Stormers’ tacktical kicking has not been up to scratch, particular when they are trying to find touch from a penalty kick or relieving the pressure in their own 22. It’s understandable that they want to find a good touch in the opposition’s 22 with their penalties to give their forwards a chance to rumble the ball up, but it’s criminal not to kick the ball out at this level. There were also a few misdirected kicks on Saturday by Coleman and Nic Groom that led to various counter-attacks and points for the Chiefs.
Lineouts
The Stormers’ lineouts were much better on Saturday, as the understanding between the hooker and the jumpers was finally there for all to see. But in the previous matches this set-piece robbed the Stormers of some momentum and an attacking platform. The Stormers always back their maul, but when the lineout is not executed properly, then the forwards won’t have a chance to drive. The Stormers scored a magnificent try on Saturday following a backline move after a lineout, and if they can continue to improve in this area, it could once again be a source of good, quality ball for the backs.
Stuttering backline
The Stormers’ backs have only shown glimpses of how dangerous they can be. On Saturday, in the bright sunshine against the Chiefs, they scored a brilliant try after some slick distribution from Coleman and a lovely drift and offload by Damian de Allende. But those moments have been few and far between, with only De Allende really making an impact with ball in hand. The team’s counter-attacking has also been a bit pedestrian, with Dillyn Leyds’s try from a bad Blues kick the only highlight so far.
Who’s been hot
Steven Kitshoff
Vincent Koch has got most of the plaudits, but “Rooi Gevaar” is back with a bang this season. He looks lean and mean, and is looking like the freckled face 19-year-old who sparkled during his debut season in Super Rugby. Not only has he scrummed well, but he also thrown himself about the park. The best loosehead in the competition after the first five rounds of the tournament.
Damian de Allende
The big Stormers No 12 has arguably been the best inside centre of the competition. His barn-storming runs and his ability to offload in the tackle has really helped the Stormers to get over the advantage line. De Allende’s work-rate has also been massive, as he covers a lot of grass on the park, while his defending has also improved. But he needs to get more front-foot ball to effective.
Who needs to pull up their socks
Nizaam Carr
After serving up top performances last season, Carr hasn’t really been at his dynamic best. He is probably still getting over the virus that really hampered his pre-season preparation. Carr hasn’t been effective with ball in hand, while he also hasn’t won a lot turnover ball as an opensider for the Cape side.
He could be employed in his natural No 8 position in their first match on tour against the Highlanders, which could spark this wonderful talent back into action.
Cheslin Kolbe
Obviously the pocket-rocket can’t run everything back that is kicked towards him, and he has got to pick his moments to counter. But Kolbe hasn’t really had a go yet this season from the back, and it seems that his confidence is a bit low. The fact that he was bumped off easily against the Chiefs on Saturday will not help his mind set, but he needs to get back to that space where he believes he can beat anyone with a click of his heels. It’s time to break free of the shackles. - Cape Times