The Stormers are at a crucial crossroads as they prepare for a highly anticipated North-South Derby against the Bulls at Cape Town Stadium next weekend.
Unbeaten at home against their arch-rivals historically, recent struggles, including a damning defeat to Leinster and a couple of injuries, leave the Cape side tasked with regaining momentum in the United Rugby Championship in their first of four remaining local derbies.
🗣️ "Maak Die Bulle Almal Bokke"
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) January 28, 2025
Schalla heard the Bulls fans singing and had flashbacks to some bad memories at Loftus 🤣
😝 "I think the heat is getting to them!" pic.twitter.com/V1dfcxZCjD
The Bulls will rock up to Cape Town next Saturday with newfound confidence and keen to exploit any weaknesses in the Stormers' game, particularly in light of their recent underwhelming performance.
Having tasted blood after a formidable 35-22 win against the Lions at Ellis Park last week, the visitors will be eager to inflict more misery on the Stormers and further dent their playoff hopes, while claiming a first URC win in the Mother City.
As director of rugby John Dobson contemplates his line-up, a critical decision looms regarding the make-up of the replacements bench.
The adopted 6-2 split, a structure favoured by Dobson due to the versatility of the Stormers’ forward pack, is a viable option, especially to counter the Bulls upfront.
This configuration allows players like hooker André-Hugo Venter and loose forward Ben-Jason Dixon to step into dual roles, providing flexibility that can be pivotal in tough matches. However, against the powerful Bulls forward pack, the 6-2 ‘Bomb Squad’ might just be the remedy the Stormers need to weather the storm.
Yet, the allure of incorporating a 5-3 split to bolster their backline is also an enticing option. An extra back on the bench could offer greater support to an attacking strategy and lessen the disruption caused by an injury to their flyhalf.
This was starkly illustrated last weekend when pivot Manie Libbok left the field against Leinster before halftime with a knee injury, forcing rookie inside centre Jonathan Roche into an unfamiliar flyhalf role, which could not help but expose the team’s frailties.
Compounding the situation, the return of utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu remains uncertain as he recovers from recent injuries.
This disruption has highlighted vulnerabilities within the Stormers’ attacking structure, particularly when forced to shuffle their midfield unexpectedly during matches.
As Dobson and his coaches ponder their tactics, the importance of getting their replacements right cannot be overstated.
Failing to do so could put the Stormers at risk of succumbing to an aggressive Bulls side in the second half, especially in front of their home fans, who expect nothing less than a return to winning ways in the tournament.