Heavyweight Howard a must
No sense having mini backs when half of each match is spent defending
THE Stormers will be making a big mistake if they leave Pat Howard behind when they head for Australasia on Saturday. A miniature backline was exposed in emphatic fashion by a pair of super-sized Chiefs wingers at Newlands as the Stormers stumbled to their first loss of the season.
In the aftermath, coach Allister Coetzee rightfully blamed a scattershot kicking game. A lightweight backline, one that was clearly targeted by the Chiefs, was equally as culpable.
Touchline tanks Bryce Heem (1.93m, 103kg) and James Lowe (1.87m, 101kg) dwarfed two-thirds of the hosts’ back three.
In fact, winger Kobus van Wyk and centre Damian de Allende are the only two Stormers starting backs who tip the scales at more than 90kg.
Tactically, it’s a blinking neon arrow showing opposing teams where to have a go, and that’s exactly what the Chiefs did.
Leg-tackles are standard practice for small backs and it was Dillyn Leyds’ inability to bear-hug Damian McKenzie that allowed the undersized Chiefs fullback to get a pass away to Heem.
The Chiefs winger didn’t even have to slow down to brush Kolbe aside before passing inside for the try that sparked a breathtaking comeback win for the Kiwis.
The difference between McKenzie and Kolbe is that the Chiefs deep man operates behind a backline anchored by 108kg midfielder Sonny Bill Williams and flanked by one-ton wingers.
When the left side of the Stormers backline was probed, Kolbe and Leyds (sub80kg), and centre Juan de Jongh (88kg) were grossly outgunned at the point of contact. It was the same on attack – whenever Kolbe failed to beat a defender with his explosive side-step, the Stormers were immediately under pressure just to retain possession, let alone win quick ball.
This put added pressure on the pack to track across-field in support, which explains why the Stormers were sometimes caught short of numbers in the defensive line as their heavies spent the second half chugging east and west to put out fires.
Kolbe is peerless as an open-field runner and Leyds and De Jongh are also infinitely better attacking weapons than Howard. However, roughly half of every match is spent defending and having three minibacks standing shoulder-to-shoulder will compromise any defensive philosophy.
Howard recently returned from Ireland – after being quietly loaned out on a threemonth contract at the end of last year – where he turned out for Munster in the No 13 jersey.
Better suited to outside centre, Howard is no stranger to the wing position and, at 100kg, he has the size to ensure continuity when the Stormers move the ball wide. Edinburgh-born rookie Huw Jones (96kg) should also be considered for a start.
In the first four rounds, Johnny Kotze (90kg) did well on the right wing in Van Wyk’s injury-absence but he still gives up almost 15kg in a one-on-one against the likes of Heem.
Coetzee must choose between Kolbe and Leyds to start at fullback and complement Van Wyk and the Stormers’ backline with a bookend capable of holding his own at the point of contact.
The Stormers coach was today scheduled to name a 27-man squad for the four-match tour which kicks off against the Highlanders in Dunedin on March 28.
If Howard’s name isn’t on the manifesto, the Stormers will remain vulnerable. Jamie Joseph’s pupils will no doubt dilate next week when he reviews what Heem did to Kolbe.
Like the Chiefs, the Highlanders play to big wingers on attack and rely on them to prey on isolated runners in the trams – Patrick Osborne is 1.87m and 106kg; Waisake Naholo is 1.86m ad 102kg.
The Highlanders have knocked off recent champions in quick succession this season. Starting with the 2011 champion Reds in round three, Jospeh’s team have since beaten the Chiefs – winners in 2012 and 2013 – followed by Saturday’s victory over the reigning champions, the Waratahs.
They’re no pushovers. With Howard on the wing, Coetzee will be able to say the same of the Stormers outside backs. – Zelim Nel