Stormers scrumhalf Cobus Reinach must light the attacking fire for his side when they face the Sharks in the return coastal derby on Saturday in Durban. The Stormers should not focus so much on fixing their set-piece woes that they forget about their stuttering attack ahead of facing the Sharks in the second United Rugby Championship (URC) coastal derby on Saturday in Durban. With their backs against the wall, the Cape side will trek up the coast eager to get revenge at Kings Park (5pm kick-off).
Their misfiring maul defence and lineout blunders on their own throw have been major focal points, but it’s time for their potent backline to step up. There have been few signs of the Stormers of old over the last couple of weeks. Known for their attacking prowess and possessing the calibre of players to enforce that type of game plan, the Cape side have been well off producing it.
There were flare-ups at the DHL Stadium this past weekend, but poor decision-making and errors halted plenty of attacks. However, this rematch in Durban provides them with the perfect opportunity to set things right – not just with their pack of forwards, but in the backline as well, where flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and his partner Cobus Reinach must take the lead. They will have to set the platform for the ball to reach the dangerous backs in space, including playmakers Damian Willemse and Warrick Gelant.
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The Stormers’ Springbok halfbacks played second fiddle to the Sharks’ Bok pairing of Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse, and they must avoid a repeat in the Shark Tank. The Cape side had ample attacking opportunities in front of their home fans, and the forwards will generate that platform again. But it will be up to the backline to decide how well those chances are used.
Assistant coach Rito Hlungwani said they won’t be too bothered by the conditions on the day, knowing that Durban can produce any type of weather. This could impact the play of their backline and how accurate they are on the attack. “We play a game model that is set for all types of conditions.
We can adapt and are flexible in how we approach our game,” Hlungwani said. “I don’t think the conditions will put us under any type of pressure that we haven’t faced before. This competition presents challenges, but it is up to us and all the other teams to create a game model that is interchangeable and easy to change from week to week.
“We feel we have a blueprint that can play in Cape Town and the next weekend overseas or in the humidity of Durban. We are not too concerned about it.” Eighth man Evan Roos is set to return to the team after missing out last weekend due to injury. He will be an important cog when it comes to stopping rolling mauls, but also on defence alongside Ben-Jason Dixon. His tireless work at the breakdown could also play a key role in Durban.
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