Willemse and Nel could hold key to Stormers’ defence revival as Sharks circle Cape shores

The Stormers’ midfield defence will be firmly under the microscope, but the possible revival of the Damian Willemse–Ruhan Nel centre partnership could provide a timely solution as the Cape side prepare to face the Sharks in the first coastal derby of the United Rugby Championship (URC) season.

Over the last two weekends in the Champions Cup, the Stormers have experimented with combinations in the centres and at flyhalf against Harlequins and Leicester Tigers.

Those changes disrupted their defensive cohesion and were punished by two clinical attacking sides, resulting in a series of devastating line breaks and tries conceded by what is usually a stingy Stormers defence.

The potential reunion of Willemse and Nel could bring much-needed stability, but defence coach Norman Laker cautioned that the duo, along with several other returning players, still need to pass fitness assessments before being cleared for selection.

If they do return, they are expected to significantly bolster the side, alongside regular captain Salmaan Moerat, fullback Warrick Gelant and lock Adré Smith.

As was the case against the Bulls, the Stormers are bracing themselves for a physical onslaught when the Sharks arrive on Cape shores, with Laker emphasising that the challenge will test their structure and resilience, especially on defence.

“How we performed on defence at the back (in the last couple of games) was a bit of an issue, but I must also give compliments to the attack of the teams,” Laker said on Monday.

“Although we defended poorly, they had some very good set-piece moves. Sometimes you must just clap and acknowledge the attack. The 10, 12 and 13 who played against Harlequins and Leicester were fairly untested combinations. I didn’t want to bring it up because I don’t want it to sound like an excuse. But the combination on defence between those three positions is crucial.

“We know the quality rugby players André Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker and Jurenzo Julius are. André and Ethan play for the Boks and Jurenzo is probably a great prospect for the future. So, it will be a good contest for our boys.”

The raw numbers of the last couple of weekends underline the concern. The Stormers conceded 13 tries in their last two matches — nine against Harlequins and four against Leicester this past Saturday.

However, the coaching staff insist that the recent lapses are not a reflection of a broader defensive decline. In fact, across the previous eight URC rounds, the Stormers conceded just 11 tries in total, including keeping Leinster and the Ospreys scoreless.

“I told the team this morning that I want us to focus on ourselves because of the collapses in the midfield over the past two weeks, and not on what players the Sharks could bring. We know the world-class rugby players they can bring. If we have our house in order, we will be competitive come this weekend.”

While the Stormers remain unbeaten in the URC, they know they must sharpen their defensive execution, particularly against an unpredictable Sharks side capable of striking from anywhere on the field.

The visitors are still winless at the DHL Stadium in the URC, but their decision to rest Springboks in preparation for the derby highlights their desperation to change that narrative. The Sharks will arrive in Cape Town refreshed and focused, with one clear objective: to reverse their fortunes, climb off the bottom of the log and finally secure a breakthrough win in hostile territory.

With the Durbanites knocked out of the Champions Cup, the Stormers can expect them to fire on all cylinders in the URC.