The positional change Dobbo needs to make ahead of Sharks derby

OPINION: The Stormers will take on the Sharks in a coastal blockbuster in Round Three of the United Rugby Championship.

While the Sharks will aim to continue their winning ways after two impressive victories over the Ospreys and Leinster, the Stormers will want to put their implosion against Edinburgh behind them and bounce back at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

Going into their Round Two contest against Edinburgh, the Stormers had never secured victory in Scotland, and that luckless run continued at the weekend after the visitors did themselves no favours.

Now, in their first game at home this season, they have a chance to set things right against a team who have enjoyed URC success in the Mother City just once before.

We look at three factors that could be key against the Sharks.

Line-out reconstruction

The torrid wind at the Hive Stadium can’t even take some of the blame, considering that the Stormers’ line-out problems started when starting hooker Andre-Hugo Venter left the field early in the second quarter to undergo an HIA (Head Injury Assessment).

In fact, calling it “problems” is putting it mildly.

The visitors wasted several prime attacking positions thanks to their disaster of a line-out.

While replacement hooker Vernon Paulo seemed to direct his throws at everything but his targets, he wasn’t helped by the seemingly confusing calls by experienced JD Schickerling.

The conditions would probably have been challenging for any new hooker.

The presence of Liam McConnell compounded the Stormers’ troubles at the set-piece, with the towering flanker stealing three against the throw – two of those in Edinburgh’s 22 – while he was also instrumental late in the game when Edinburgh chose to compete at the line-out on their five instead of setting up to defend the rolling maul.

He managed to disrupt the Stormers’ line-out yet again to get the ball away and secure the win.

So, Edinburgh probably also deserve credit for the pressure they applied, but then again, doing the bare minimum would have sufficed given the extent to which the Stormers gifted them opportunities.

The Stormers will have more experienced hands available for the Sharks clash, with JJ Kotze and Deon Fourie are also back in the mix.

Bringing in that experience will bring some stability against the Sharks and help the Stormers put their dangerous maul into effect.

Wide-Channel sharpness

This has more to do with the Sharks’ potency as opposed to a Stormers weakness.

Springbok Edwill van der Merwe and Litelihle Bester were superb against Leinster as they constantly threatened the space down touch, while the likes of Bok threat Ethan Hooker and Zekhethelo Siyaya are ever ready to pounce.

The battle of the finishers will be a good one in its own right.

Starting Damian Willemse at No.15

There was a time when Warrick Gelant excellently dictating proceedings from the back was as expected as Matt Williams finding something about the Springboks to moan about.

Now is not that time.

And, just like Williams’ rants, it’s been a while since the counter-attacking wizardry of Gelant has done the rounds.

When at his peak, his positional play, kicking from hand, footwork, ability to read the game, and overall attacking guile are outstanding.

But Gelant is nowhere near his best at the moment. He has been way off form for some time now, and he hasn’t found it despite his continued backing.

He hasn’t been able to spark the Stormers’ attack, and his latest performance was another example of that.

There needs to be a change at fullback, and not just simply because Springbok Damian Willemse is available.

Dropped high balls or other handling fumbles will give the Sharks’ formidable pack opportunities in dangerous territory, and any malfunction with the boot will play right into the hands of their dangerous outside backs.

The Stormers need more reliability at No. 15 and, currently, there is just no reason to believe that Gelant will suddenly give them that.