Stormers hit the road, hoping to end losing streak
REACTION: The Stormers will be hoping for some good news on the injury front, as they hit the road in the hope of ending their losing streak.
Having lost to the Sharks (30-33) and Bulls (16-20) at the Cape Town Stadium, they head to Ellis Park this week to face the Lions (also winless in Rainbow Cup SA) and Kings Park next week for a rematch with the Sharks.
The biggest problem for the Cape Town franchise could be in the second row – where new recruit and line-out specialist Marvin Orie could be sidelined with a concussion he suffered in the loss to the Bulls this past weekend.
“We have had a [bad] run [with injuries] in certain positions, which has put us under a bit of stress,” Stormers coach John Dobson told a virtual media briefing.
They have now lost Salmaan Moerat (neck injury – return date uncertain), John Schickerling (ankle) and Orie (concussion).
“We struggled a bit in the line-outs, [after Orie left the field],” he said of the Bulls encounter.
“Marvin was a big loss to us, because our other caller is JD [Schickerling] and he is also injured.”
With three frontline locks out, they could feature a new second row – with David Meihuizen partnered by Ernst van Rhyn – who has covered the second row off the bench for the last two weeks.
Adre Smith, who started training with the Stormers after being released on loan from Griquas, will also come into the picture.
The news at scrumhalf, where Godlen Masimla could be sidelined for several week with a dislocated finger, is a lot more positive.
Springbok Herschel Jantjies is set to return from injury this week.
The flyhalf position is also a bit of a headache, with Abner van Reenen – who came into the place of the injured Kade Wolhuter – struggling to find his feet.
Dobson put that down to a lack of game time over the past year.
Facing the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday, May 15, followed by the Sharks in Durban a week later, the Stormers are looking to get some consistency in selection.
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“We should not be seduced by the scoreboard,” he said of the loss to the Bulls this past weekend and the Sharks the week before.
He made it clear he was not going to be throwing the baby out with the bath water.
“It is a really disappointing changeroom,” the coach said of the back-to-back defeats, adding: “Those were two games in a row we could have or should have won.
“That has taken its toll on the guys.
“Now it is about getting them up mentally, excited and keep the team together.
“You can’t fault the guys’ effort. Despite all our disruptions, we are boxing well.”
Dobson added that he felt his team’s tactics the last fortnight was the correct, as they push a high-intensity and high ball in play game.
“Ellis Park is a great venue for those tactics,” the Stormers coach said.
“The result might not show it, but I don’t think our processes were that far off the last two weeks.”
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