Director of rugby John Dobson expects a vastly improved performance from the Stormers on Saturday evening when a buoyant Benetton outfit visits Cape Town.
Dobson’s charges face a stern test of their Vodacom URC playoff credentials when they host Benetton at Cape Town Stadium for the first time.
While the eighth-placed Stormers edged Connacht 34-29 in a try-fest last week, they leaked five tries in a performance that left Dobson more concerned than satisfied.
Benetton, who are fifth on the standings, dismantled the Lions 42-31 at Ellis Park, guided by flyhalf Jacob Umaga’s 23-point haul. The Italians have beaten the Capetonians twice in Treviso but went down 38-22 at Danie Craven Stadium in 2022-23.
“Benetton is a big team and will be a more physical challenge than perhaps the multi-phase play of Connacht,” Dobson said.
“We must speed up our own breakdown ball, it was poor [against Connacht]. Our set pieces were excellent.”
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The Stormers produced flashes of attacking brilliance, including a hat-trick from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, but defensive lapses and poor discipline almost cost them.
“To me, it was our worst defensive performance in a couple of seasons,” Dobson added. “We worked hard on our defence, but Connacht had the most line-breaks and metres made in the URC and they exposed us. Our defence out wide was horribly exposed.
“There were some ‘worldie’ tries, but I don’t think we were at our best. Every time we scored, they got into our 22 and scored. Our exits and discipline must improve.”
There were positives, though, with tighthead Sazi Sandi and replacement Vernon Matongo stepping up in the absence of senior props Frans Malherbe and Neethling Fouche, while Ali Vermaak won key scrum penalties.
The 22-year-old Paul de Villiers also made an assured first start in the Stormers No 6 jumper, playing a crucial role in two of Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s three tries and disrupting Connacht’s ball at the breakdown.
With Deon Fourie sidelined, De Villiers’ high work rate and jackalling will be vital in the run-in.
“I’m very chuffed with the scrums; it was encouraging,” said Dobson. “Paul was great at six despite the injury to Deon [Fourie]. I’m not too worried about that jersey.”
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
