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You’ll have to work hard to beat any team that has manic-aggressive Schalk Burger, global hardman Eben Etzebeth, and the energy of tackle-busting Damian de Allende.
Add slippery Cheslin Kolbe, stout-as-ale Frans Malherbe and Vincent Koch, massive young Pieter-Steph du Toit, clever Nizaam Carr, finisher Cornal Hendricks, and street-smart Juan de Jongh, and you have the nucleus of a better-than-average Super Rugby squad.
Depth for the Stormers can be found in Springboks like Jano Vermaak, Jaco Taute, and Siya Kolisi, physical grafters like Rynhardt Elstadt and Sikhumbuzo Notshe, the young phenom lock JD Schickerling, or smart operators like Nic Groom and Scarra Ntubeni.
The second-biggest question mark is at flyhalf, where youngsters Kurt Coleman, Jean-Luc du Plessis (21), and Robert du Preez (22) are fighting for the starting jersey. None are as solid off the tee as the departed Demetri Catrakilis, but they can take the ball flat and are tough defenders.
But the Stormers’ biggest issue is at coach. Robbie Fleck has taken the helm, after Eddie Jones spent less time as gaffer than the ball stays in a Japanese scrum.
Fleck is a nice guy, a guy to have a beer with, but it was under his tutelage as backline coach that the Stormers managed to turn Kolbe, de Jongh, de Allende, and real fliers at wing into a stagnant unit. He is also not known as a disciplinarian, he is more of a ‘players’ coach.
However, he has his squad looking very fit, and is speaking of playing a style that uses the Cape players’ speed as a competitive advantage.
At first, that statement sounds ludicrous, given the Stormers’ recent grind-it-out style of success. But in fact, speed is their best asset.
An Etzebeth-du Toit second row, with a Kolisi-Burger-Carr backrow, and possibly the fastest outside backs in the competition (Dillyn Leyds, Johnny Kotze, and Kobus van Wyk, among other speedsters) makes a fast and fit team.
Finally, the Stormers have a dream draw in a soft conference. If they cannot win the conference, it will probably be because they have not found their flyhalf or their coach loses the team’s confidence.
There can be no excuse for not going deep into the playoffs.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.