Stormers coach John Dobson.
Image: BackpagePix
The Stormers drew their match against Ulster last week, but it felt like a loss to the Capetonians because they blew a great chance to go top of the URC points table. They must win Friday night’s visit to Cardiff to secure a home quarter-final. There is a huge amount at stake in this last league match, and we look at five areas where the Stormers must improve.
Cultivate a killer instinct
The Stormers will rue the fact that they could not put Ulster away after Iain Henderson was red-carded for his heinous croc roll on Deon Fourie. They were 17-7 ahead and had a player advantage, but it was the Northern Irishmen who hit the accelerator and scored two tries before half-time.
It should have been the other way around. Ulster would not lie down, and another twin try strike late in the match almost secured the spoils. The Stormers have to get better at exploiting an advantage in player numbers.
Be ruthless in taking opportunities
There were sighs all over Cape Town when first Evan Roos and then Imad Khan knocked on with the tryline beckoning. Golden opportunities such as those have to be taken when you are playing your mates in your back garden, never mind trying to nail top spot on the URC points ladder. There were many other “what-ifs”, and if just one of the multiple missed chances had been taken, Ulster would have been well beaten.
Brush up on the discipline
Stormers coach John Dobson lamented two pick-and-go penalties conceded, one of which was a 14-point swing. The discipline in general was not good, and it will be a huge focus going into the Cardiff game, along with converting scoring opportunities.
The penalty count against the Stormers in Belfast put them under needless pressure. The chief culprit was Evan Roos, who gave away two silly penalties, with the one just before half-time near the Ulster line costing his team a probable try.
Let Sacha FM blare loud and clear
This URC season will be remembered by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu for the social media criticism he endured after daring to make a mistake, with coach Dobson slamming his critics in press conferences.
Against Ulster, Feinberg-Mngomezulu made a few errors, including a botched drop goal attempt, but he also had sensational moments on attack. The 24-year-old must be encouraged to play his natural attacking game and as the former England flyhalf Stuart Barnes said.
“A player as brilliant as the Springbok flyhalf will always do far more positive things than negative. Sacha makes attack look like child’s play. He carves the opposition into pieces.”
Tune in to opposition tactics
There were occasions against Ulster when the Stormers appeared fast asleep. The Irish side had done their homework and came with a plan to catch the visitors off guard with quick tap penalties. It took too long for the Stormers to switch on this premeditated tactic.
A Cardiff team that loves to attack from disrupted play will have learned from that. As Andre-Hugo Venter told the media, “We need to better understand our weaknesses and prepare for the opposition to attack us there.”