Foley: Stormers set the standard

 

Foley has named a strong side for the Super Rugby clash at Newlands on Saturday for a match which is crucial to the 'Tahs’ playoff hopes.

 

"We have massive respect for the Stormers and have picked a pack that we believe can compete against them," Foley told this website.

 

The former Wallaby hooker explained that he has been carefully preparing his troops for the match to take on some well-organised South African opposition.

 

"The thing that South Africans are so good at is the set-piece and particularly the line-out, and they are the world leaders in that area with guys like [Victor] Matfield and [Andries] Bekker leading the way there over the last few years," he explained.

 

"Tiaan [Liebenberg] is a powerful player and his combination with Bekker in the line-out is very important for them [the Stormers], and I've got a lot of admiration for him being a former hooker myself. We know that if we don't play well in that area we won't have any possession, and I think Bekker is the premier lock in South Africa.

 

"The Stormers forwards set the benchmark in many areas of forward play," he added.

 

Foley added that the obvious strength of the Stormers is their defence and said that was another area that he has analysed as it will ask questions of the Waratahs' attack.

 

"The thing that sets the Stormers apart statistically is they are the best defensive side in the competition, and there are good sides in Super Rugby – so to be number one at something is a real credit," he said. "As a whole team their defence is superb, so it's going to be physical and that's what rugby should be.”

 

Physically the 'Tahs don't fear fronting up against any opposition and have a powerful pack with more emphasis put on the forwards' play than your average Australian side.

 

"We felt a couple of years ago with our forwards that we weren't physically developed enough and that was largely to do with their youth," Foley explained. "We've tried hard to improve athletically with our conditioning and power, and we're better equipped to go out and play physical rugby now than we were two years ago."

 

While many have applauded the Stormers defensive game this year, there have been far few plaudits of their attack, but Foley doesn't sees this as a weakness of Allister Coetzee's men.

 

"I think they're very shrewd with their attacking game because they build pressure on defence and force you into errors and capitalise on that,' he said.

 

"I don't see them as a poor attacking side, but rather a very patient side that builds pressure and then take the opportunities that present themselves."

 

The coach added that this match is a big one for his team at an important stage in the competition and at a famous rugby ground.

 

"There are some very special games and playing at Newlands is one of those," he said.