VIDEO: 'We haven't played a team like this'
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Blues are far more menacing than their recent past suggest and their 2020 form means they are a real peril to the Stormers.
The unbeaten, table-topping Cape Town outfit host the Blues at Newlands on Saturday and are wary of the New Zealand visitors – who are showing signs of marked improvement in form.
Only once since 2012 has the Blues finished inside the top 10 – eighth in 2017. They were 14th and 13th for the past two years.
However, two away wins – including last week’s 23-21 squeaker over the Bulls at a rain-drenched Loftus Versfeld – suggest they are no longer easybeats.
Stormers coach John Dobson said one of the Blues’ biggest threats is their unpredictability.
“You can work out the Hurricanes’ shape pretty easily, [also] the Jaguares’ shape,” he said of their opposition in the first four weeks.
“They are unusual,” Dobson said of the Blues, adding: “They are physical, but they are quite off the cuff as well.
“We haven’t played a team like this.”
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Dobson said it is difficult to assess if the three-playmaker decision worked for the Blues against the Bulls last week, because of the wet conditions.
Blues coach Leon MacDonald started with Otere Black at flyhalf, Stephen Perofeta moved to inside centre and Harry Plummer played at fullback – a selection policy he may well repeat against the Stormers.
“I don’t know how that [playing three flyhalves] is going to pan out at a dry Newlands,” Dobson said.
“For us, the big threat is those big carrying forwards, [including] that No.8 [Hoskins Sotutu].
“The way they pick-and-go is very effective.”
He added that playing at Newlands, against New Zealand opposition, will add to a very special occasion and pointed out that some of what they have worked on for the first month finally started to come together in the 17-7 win over the Jaguares this past weekend.
The Stormers didn’t concede a single turnover and their phase-count finally started improving.
“We should still be higher, but we [are now] averaging four phases per attack.
“There are signs [of improving].
“The difference between now and two or three weeks ago is massive.”
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