How the Stormers and the Lions can make a Super start

– WYNONA LOUW

Teach them a physical lesson

Given the way Stormers coach John Dobson has gone with his bench split (6-2) and taking into account what he’s been saying in the build-up to the clash, it’s pretty clear that they’ve set out to do just that. I just don’t see how the Hurricanes pack can out-muscle the Stormers’ Bok-laden assembly up front. It’d be perplexing if they did, and while the Kiwis are no walk-overs, the scrum and the maul are two things that should definitely go the hosts’ way, and I’d say the collisions as well.

Watch them on the ground

In their Superhero Sunday run-out against the Sharks, the Stormers’ breakdown needed a bit of work. The Sharks managed to have the biggest say in that regard, so it would certainly have been an area that received some attention before this opening fixture. The Hurricanes won’t need an invitation to attack the Stormers’ breakdown, and those loose forwards in particular are going to need to be watched. But the Stormers have no shortage of men who can hit the rucks, and they’re going to have to be on full alert come that time this afternoon.

Go 100, from start to finish

One of the biggest buzzkills the Faithful can experience today is if the Stormers start off well and fade as the match progresses, or if they just don’t manage to perform consistently. Whether that’s in the form of a strong start followed by a drop in performance as the minutes tick on, or a less-than-ideal start which will result in them having to chase the game, neither scenario is welcome today. Assistant coach Dawie Snyman has spoken about how they’ve focused on getting the guys conditioned to close out those big games in the last 10 minutes and to play for the full 80, and seeing that today will superb.

Make that Hurricanes’ backline feel unwelcome They don’t have Beauden Barrett anymore, but that doesn’t mean their backline is devoid of problem-causing personnel, AKA Ngani Laumape and Ben Lam, for example. Then there’s also their captain TJ Perenara and another Barrett in Jordie, and those are more than enough threats to be circled in red. They need to be shut down, no doubt about that, and the Stormers should feel welcome to start with Laumape and Lam.

Shut out the noise

Ask anyone who’s been to Argentina to play rugby what it is like and they’ll tell you it’s not the best place on Earth to take on the home team. The fans are aggressive and intimidating and they, with their team, make life very difficult for a visitor. The Jaguares have a good record at home, with only the Lions of the South African teams winning there last season. However, it was the Lions’ first win in BA; they lost on the three other occasions they visited. And, let’s also not forget, the Jaguares will be pumped up after playing in the final last year.

Stop the Jaguares’ momentum

The Lions’ hosts are very much like the French; if they get on top and they get in the mood, they’re very hard to stop. But, if they go behind early on and are a little out-of-sorts, you can punish them. Well, the Lions must definitely not go behind early on and think playing catch-up rugby will be good enough – it won’t. The Lions have to start fast and put all the pressure on their hosts, force them into errors and take every chance. Defensively, the Lions must stand tall and give their hosts nothing.

It’s fairly obvious, but the Lions need to win the battle in the forwards; that is, at scrumtime, in the line-outs and in the collisions and breakdowns. New tighthead Jannie du Plessis has a huge role to play in the scrums, but so, too, do young hooker Pieter Jansen and his locks, Marvin Orie and Ruben Schoeman, have big parts to play; they need to click on every throw. The new-look loose-trio, with two rookies in the mix, also have to deliver first-up, while, with six forwards on the bench, the Lions need to go for the full 80.

Seniors must stand up

The Lions have lost a number of big name players in the last year, among them Malcolm Marx, Kwagga Smith, Warren Whiteley, Harold Vorster, Lionel Mapoe and Ruan Combrinck, while Ross Cronjé is injured and Andries Coetzee isn’t ready to play. It leaves the visitors thin in hardened campaigners so the onus will be on the likes of the well-travelled Jannie du Plessis, Dylan Smith, Marvin Orie, Marnus Schoeman, Elton Jantjies and Courtnal Skosan to show the way. They must lead the youngsters and set the tone for the performance.

Don’t play with fear

One thing that has always worked for the Lions is their willingness to run at the opposition, from all parts of the field and no matter the situation. While playing smart, intelligent rugby, based on good territory, is always the way to go, the Lions mustn’t creep into their shells and not have a proper crack at the Jaguares. The Lions have some quality ball-players in their side, like Tyrone Green, and they need to get them into the game. They must ask questions of the Jaguares at every opportunity and never become predictable.