Old habits seem to die hard.

In recent years, the Stormers (and the Western Province)have become quite renowned for 2 things. First up, for their incredible defensive abilities and secondly, for their lack in creativity, failing to run angles, perform switches and generally not being able to get the ball out to the speedsters. 

Stormers supporters became used to tedious rugby where penalty goals and courageous defensive efforts turned the scoreboard to favour the Capetonians. Running rugby seemed to be something of the past and yet the Newlands faithful always turned up in numbers and  never seemed to disappoint.

Obviously something had to be done and after a disappointing 2014 Super Rugby season Gert Smal was appointed as Director of Rugby with both the Western Province and the Stormers. Immediately one could note the difference Smal had made and the faithful was entertained with real running rugby during their 2014 Currie Cup campaign yet again. Between Smal and Coetzee it was as if they got the balance spot on between defence and attack. Between a running game and a kicking game. Suddenly real talented running backs were discovered within the group. Seabelo Senatla, Cheslin Kolbe and even youngster Kobus van Wyk created havoc for opposition’s defensive structures.  Juan de Jong flourished in these conditions and many a folk felt that he was hard done by for not being part of the Springbok squad. 

By tweaking their attacking formation from 9 to 10, avoiding the old South African approach of kicking away all the ball possession, and just running angles, they created space on the outside and played really well balanced rugby. Province did not deviate from their well-organized defensive structures and the tight five still played their part. With the tight five taking care of business, the loose forwards had less hard work to do and guys like Nizaam Carr thrived with ball in hand. The results came automatically. Western Province qualified for the finals and won a hard fought battle with 19 points to 16 against the regiment of Johan Ackermann’s Golden Lions. Not only were Western Province crowned 2014 Currie Cup Champions, they were also honoured with being named South African team of the year. Nizaam Carr also strode along home with being awarded the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the year.

Stormers fans had hoped that they could feed off this energised Currie Cup squad and that the momentum they had generated would only be the tip of the iceberg come Super Rugby time. And so it was, with the opening round fixture against old foe in the Bull ring. All hopes and prayers did not go unanswered as the Stormers played with real intensity and stability. They dominated in scrums, stood tall in the line outs and never shied away from any of the physical stuff. The first five-eight didn't try to steal the show by attempting to perform miracles and played with no sideshows what so ever. He just did the basics right and laid a good platform for the centres to cause mayhem, and that they did. Damian de Allende had a fantastic performance and  outright outplayed Springbok centre pair Serfontein and Engelbrecht. 

Admittedly the Bulls were not at their best but as my Old Man always argues, "you only play as well as the opposition allows you to play"…  

Week two however saw the Stormers revert back to “winning rugby” where the ball was met more by the boot than by the outside backs. Admittedly they did face a Blues outfit that played rather negative footy and it felt like the match never really got into full motion. All facts considered though, the tight five was fending most of the time not contesting the rucks and malls. Even with the advantage of an extra man on the park for most of the 80, it seemed like the men from Cape Town struggled to get over the white chalked line. 

Round 3 saw  the Stormers even deeper in the game plan that kept their trophy cabinet empty for quite some time. The forwards did not commit to any of the rough stuff, the line outs was nothing short of a mess and the centres were used as main defenders, rather than ball carriers. Taking nothing away from the Lions, (except the game) they displayed heaps of character and one couldn't help but feel for them with the end result. 

Point is, although the Stormers won three from three and are currently topping the South African conference, I miss the intensity, the ball skills and outright class act they ought to be. Personally, I believe that relying only on your defence will only get you so far, and "that" far is definitely not far enough. They have to maintain the balance they had in the Currie Cup if ever they would like to raise some silverware in Super Rugby. 

I would love nothing more than to see the tight five get into the rough stuff,  the loose trio playing towards the ball and the backs just turning on the magic with those jet shoes we all know they wear…