AUDIO: Stormers' Bok pack 'frustrate' Dobson
REACTION: It seems as if Stormers head coach John Dobson will have to rethink his ‘explosive power-based game’ tactic for their Super Rugby opener.
The Stormers concluded their preseason with a 21-19 win over Sharks in the pre-season match in Soweto on Sunday.
Both teams scored three tries, Sharks wing Makazole Mapimpi and Stormers scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies both bagged a brace of tries.
*Also read: Stormers edge Sharks in Soweto
However, the win means nothing rather it was the performance – particle of the forwards – which left Dobson a little bit frustrated.
The Sharks’ new signing Ox Nche with his fellow front-row proved to be a huge problem for Neethling Fouche, Scarra Ntubeni and World Cup winner Steven Kitshoff.
While captain Siya Kolisi, who played a new position at No.8, also showed signs of fatigue following his post-World Cup obligations.
“The Springboks [Kolisi] and [Kitshoff] were a little bit rusty, ” Dobson told reporters, adding: “I think it is a conditioning issue,”
“I was certainly a little bit frustrated at the end of the first half – think we were just not functioning how we should.
“Nonetheless it was nice to see Kwenso Blose and some other youngsters come on in the second half and get scrum dominance. The way we finished was impressive,”
Dobson also identified other problem areas the team need to rectify ahead of the Super Rugby season.
“Our maul defence was really poor against the Sharks, but I sent a message out for the guys to apply something we had been working on in training during the off-season. Siya, who missed the entire off-season obviously, responded by asking ‘what is that?’. So we just need some clarity. I was also disappointed with the scrum penalty we gave away in the first half, the one that led to Makazole Mapimpi scoring his first try.”
*Article continues below…
https://soundcloud.com/user-645352503/john-dobson-on-stormers-pre-season
It was not all doom and gloom for the men from the Cape, Dobson had loads of praise for the likes Sergeal Petersen, Leolin Zas, David Kriel, Godlen Masimla, Rickus Pretorius and lock David Meihuizen for their individual performances.
“I was impressed with Meihuizen, who played only fifth or sixth team at Paarl Boys High and only played briefly for us last year, but in this game, he won every lineout and he did well at the kick-offs.
“I spoke highly of Masimla a few years ago and today he showed a lot of hunger. And Nel was very comfortable considering the last contact he took was in the Cape Town Sevens.”
The Stormers kick off their Super Rugby campaign against the Hurricanes on February 1 at Newlands.
@rugby365com
