Stormers ready for ‘direct’ Ulster test
SPEAKING after their 40-3 thrashing of the Cardiff Blues in their United Rugby Championship (URC) match at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday, Stormers head coach John Dobson made it clear that they knew they would have to up their game in certain areas this weekend against Ulster tomorrow (kick-off 3pm).
The hosts will be chasing their fourth win at home, and should they cause an upset against the Irish side, who are second on the 16-team URC standings and trail leaders Leinster by a single point, it will be the first time since 2018 that the Stormers have won four in a row at home.*
One of the outstanding features of their game over the last couple of weeks has been their try-scoring.
They’ve run in 15 five-pointers in their last two encounters against European opposition, but for all those tries scored, they have also left some out there.
Against Cardiff last weekend, the Stormers scored six tries and could easily have ended the match with a higher number, but those final passes not sticking and errors in the red zone cost them a good few fivepointers.
After the game, Dobson highlighted the importance of accuracy against Ulster.
“Ulster are a very big, physical and hard-carrying team (and) are probably more direct than Cardiff, and they are at the top of the URC,” he said.
“We would need to be more accurate at the set-piece than we were.”
While they’ll be aiming for more accuracy, one thing the Stormers will hope remain the same is the way their 10-12-15 combination has been going.
The trio has been key in the Stormers’ try tally with flyhalf Manie Libbok, utility back Damian Willemse and fullback Warrick Gelant in top form.
Gelant, especially, has been potent from the back and has used his kicking to not only spark the Stormers’ attack, but also get them into favourable field position.
Willemse has been a standout performer in the No 12 jersey and, speaking during a press conference this week, Libbok said having Willemse outside him has been a huge benefit to his game.
“The players around me are working hard to allow me to perform and play with freedom, and give me options, so I’m making the most of the opportunity to put my best foot forward and help the team to win.
“He brings something extra out of me, and he helps me a lot with decision-making, and he brings those extra eyes to the field, looking for space. He chats constantly with me, and the connection between us has grown as we’ve played more together.
“The team has plans and structures for the opposition and everyone knows their roles, and the forwards especially are working off the ball to give Herschel (Jantjies), Warrick, Damian and myself a chance to do what we can from the back, to handle the chaos. With the firepower we have, it gives us the chance.”