Upward trend in scrum key for Stormers in Stellenbosch

You don’t push back a scrum with Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch and Eben Etzebeth in it and it not get noticed by future opponents, and that is the case for Glasgow Warriors as they head to Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Saturday for their clash with the DHL Stormers.

The Sharks did correct later on in the game, but there were some early scrums where the lack of authority from a Sharks eight was noteworthy as Glasgow made some unexpected impact. So the Stormers, who are renowned for their scrumming but have had an up and down season for reasons not always entirely down to themselves, feel forewarned.

In truth, as Sharks coach John Plumtree remarked after his team’s 28-24 win over the champions, the Warriors under the coaching of Franco Smith do have threats all over the field. While the Sharks were rightly hard on themselves afterwards for leaking two tries in the last three minutes that effectively enabled Glasgow to leave Hollywoodbets Kings Park with something to feel pleased about in the form of two valuable log points, the fourth try scored by Glasgow was a sublime effort and ending like that will give them confidence ahead of what for them is a sixth round Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash.

But for the Stormers the quest for victory will start by laying a platform in the scrums, and their experienced tighthead prop Neethling Fouche, who was in the Springbok squad earlier in the year but did not get to play, is eagerly awaiting what he says will be a big challenge against the visitors.

“YOU DON’T WIN FINALS WITHOUT A GOOD SCRUM”

“Glasgow do have a good scrum, you don’t win a final, like they did last season at Loftus, without a good scrum,” said Fouche ahead of the visit of the reigning champions to a venue he knows well after playing for Maties in the Varsity Cup.

“We watched their scrumming against the Sharks at the weekend, and they gave a really good account of themselves. That should have been particularly pleasing for them if you consider they were up against Ox, Bongi and Vince, and Eben Etzebeth was packing behind those three.

“So we know we are going to have to be at our best against them. But that is what you want as a prop. You want to come up against and test yourself against formidable opponents, and against good international props. The conditions should be dry and the field in Stellenbosch is good for scrumming.

“But dry conditions in a game between two teams that like playing running rugby and are good at it might mean there aren’t that many scrums, so maybe we will need to ensure there are some deliberate knock ons just so we can get some scrums in,” he added with a cheeky grin.

While the fans love to see flowing, continuous rugby and a lot of ball in play, there isn’t a decent prop on the planet who doesn’t want to get a few scrums in just so that a statement can be made.

SCRUM DID NEED A BIT OF IMPROVING

And Fouche is honest enough to admit that while there have been some really dubious calls in the scrum from the referees, and they arguably played a role in both Stormers defeats thus far to the Ospreys and Edinburgh, the Stormers’ scrum has been a bit of a work in progress in the early parts of the new season.

“Scrumming is obviously very close to my heart, but continuity doesn’t just come. It takes a couple of weeks to get it together. We knew we were not at our best in the first couple of weeks but that was largely expected and as long as it feels we are treading in the right direction that is okay.

“We wanted a couple of things in this last game against Munster and we got it. Our responsibility as starters to keep punching at that wall, keep at it until the break comes and then in the second half we can open up a bit more. We were happy with the performance against Munster, but we have high standards and we need to keep building on that.”

The Stormers will be strengthened by the return of first choice Bok tighthead Frans Malherbe so there is even less excuse for them not to do well this week. Whether Fouche continues to start or Malherbe comes into the No 3 jersey and Fouche moves to the impact squad will only be known when the team is announced on Friday.

But what we do know is that these days rugby is played by a squad of 23 and not just a team of 15, so it shouldn’t really matter which role designation the two quality front row forwards take on.

SECOND ROW DEPTH HELPS

The Stormers also have depth now at lock since the return to the Cape of the physically imposing JD Schickerling, and that makes a difference to the scrumming too.

It is about eight guys buying into what you plan in the scrums, it isn’t just about three, and you can’t go forward without guys like JD, Adre (Smith), Ruben van Heerden and even (No 8) Keke (Morabe) working really hard behind us. Our mindset for every scrum is just that we know we need to give our best and not let anyone down. There has been a lot of pressure on us and after last week we feel we have a bit of momentum back so we must just ensure that continues on Saturday.”

While the removal of the DHL Stadium factor might concern Stormers fans, and rightly so as their team rarely loses at the primary home venue, the Cape side does also have a decent record in Stellenbosch, where they’ve never lost a URC game. Fouche, possibly because of his Stellenbosch roots as a senior rugby player, is looking forward to the occasion.

“It’s a nice place to play. It is good for running rugby, and as a forward it is nice when the backs cook. It will be great if the boys get back to doing their thing,” said Fouche.

“It should be a dry ball. I was fortunate enough to play a season there (at Danie Craven Stadium) and it is a venue that provides good underfoot conditions for quality mauling and scrumming. It should be a nice spectacle at a stadium that is enjoyable to visit because of the backdrop of the mountains and the pressure cooker atmosphere you get there so hopefully the fans come out i their numbers to support us.”