How Stormers can beat the Sharks
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee made it very clear that his side needs to become more consistent if they want to defeat the Sharks in Cape Town this weekend.
Last week they were beaten by a late Burton Francis penalty in injury time, but the coach feels that if his side can string together more fluent plays they will be well on their way to turning their nightmare season around.
"We want to get the consistency right rather than worrying about the result," he told a media scrum at Newlands.
Coetzee mentioned that the side got a lot of things right in their game against the Cheetahs, but as they got some things right others went wrong.
"There was a great improvement in our line-out play, but then we let ourselves down in other areas," Coetzee mentioned.
The Crusaders made a mockery of the Stormers line-out, but it was solid against the Cheetahs.
However, the concentration went as they conceded a scrum penalty right at the death that allowed Francis to slot the winning goal.
A big selection for the Stormers is the selection of Damian De Allende on the wing as opposition; it seems, to the physicality and height of JP Pietersen.
De Allende impressed his coach last week and Coetzee feels that he has the attributes as well as the kicking game to menace the Sharks this weekend.
"Damian [De Allende] kicked well last week against the Cheetahs and I am happy with Damian's progress in that regard," he said.
Onto the bench comes the exciting Cheslin Kolbe as a back-up on both wings as well as fullback.
The former SA sevens representative might be small but Coetzee is adamant that he is the right player for the job.
"Cheslin [Kolbe] played fullback in the Vodacom Cup and has also played SA Sevens so he can cover both wing and fullback – don't look at his stature, a lot of people say he is a small guy but he has that x-factor," Coetzee explained.
Playing against a side like the Sharks you cannot afford those lapses in concentration because they will punish you – Coetzee is aware of this.
"What we have learned is that they put you under a lot of pressure when they are in your half at set-piece and you have to make sure you are accurate and get out of your half without making any mistakes.
"We have to limit the mistakes and make sure we keep the continuity with the ball in hand once we are in their half and put them under pressure," Coetzee added.
In the first encounter between the Sharks and the Stormers in Durban it was a couple of Lambie penalties that separated the sides and Coetzee understands that patience against the Sharks will be vital as conceded penalties in your own half against them is suicide.
"Patience is going to be crucial. When you have ball in hand – patience to keep it, when you have a kicking duel – patience to not become erratic and make the wrong decision."
"Penalties won the last game so cutting the mistakes and making sure our set piece functions and keep the continuity," he said.
By Nick Tatham
