Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Breyton’s take on major difference between 1999 and 2022 Stormers
BREYTON Paulse was a major part of the first top-class Stormers team, the "Men In Black", who reached the Super 12 semi-finals in 1999.
Newlands was packed to the rafters every week as coach Alan Solomons’ team – with captain and No 8 Bobby Skinstad the star attraction on and off the field – marching their way to the play-offs with an exciting brand of rugby. They came up short against the Highlanders in Cape Town, though, and that group advanced to the same stage in 2004 on Gert Smal’s watch.
But John Dobson’s bunch of warriors took it two steps further by finally claiming much sought-after silverware for the Mother City last season when they clinched the United Rugby Championship title in thrilling fashion, beating the Bulls 18-13 in the final at Cape Town Stadium.
And the major difference between the two teams? The forwards, according to Paulse. “It’s obviously different generations, but I really love watching the guys go to work every weekend, and the way they apply themselves,” the former No 14 said during a Vodacom United Rugby Championship media call this week.
“The Stormers forwards have certainly come to the party. There was a perception, when I played, that we had exceptional backs, but at times, our forwards got bullied a lot. And I think to a certain degree that was correct.
“But this group of forwards – guys like Kitsie (Steven Kitshoff), Evan Roos, Frans Malherbe, have got no-nonsense attitudes. And they don’t stand back for anybody.”
Paulse, who was famous for doing flick-flacks after scoring a try, also praised coach Dobson’s approach of giving the players enough freedom to do their thing on the pitch.
The Stormers were also on an incredible 14-match winning streak ahead of last night’s game against the Ospreys in Swansea. “And again, it comes down to coaching. You have to give the coaches credit for the way they found that wonderful balance… because at the end of the day, you can have the best backs in the world, but if the forwards don’t do their job, there’s nothing you can do,” the 46-year-old said.
“I do feel that Dobbo’s got it right. He certainly brought in a little bit of finesse, and that’s why you see a guy like Evan Roos coming through as a star in the URC, and he got rewarded and is a Springbok today – and that is what you want. They can physically match up to the other teams like Leinster, Ulster, the Bulls, the heavyweights. The balance that Dobbo found is absolutely outstanding, and that’s why they can win championships. Last year was just a wonderful fairytale story.
“John Dobson took a couple of guys and transformed them into world-beaters: the likes of Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse – who is a world superstar at the moment… Leolin Zas, whose career was almost over.
“They found the balance between not just being bullish, but also to give the flair players like that – which I am happy to say, the smaller kind of players… John Dobson has found a way to get the best out of those players, and it is working for them.
“They can play tight, they can play loose. They can play with a bit of flair, and that is wonderful to see.”