Stormers should commit to the breakdown!
April 11, 2012 in Uncategorized
I reckon that most of you that watched the Stormers Highlanders game saw that the Stormers are “scared” to commit players to the breakdown, which you can understand in some way as the less players you commit to the breakdown the more players you have in defense, but the Stormers just don’t try and drive over the ball once they make a good tackle that drives the opponent back.
When you tackle and drive a player backwards it’s obvious then that the opposition is on the back foot and that creates and opportunity for your forwards to drive over the ball and create a turnover and that is one thing that the Crusaders have always done well and it now is something that the Stormers are lacking. I for one don’t know why the Stormers don’t try and create the turnovers; we seem pretty chuffed by just tacking the opposition backwards and then waiting on the fringes to do it again. We need to commit players to the breakdown once that tackle has been made to try and create that turnover and as a result of that give ourselves good attacking ball.
I reckon that will be the key to winning the Crusaders over the weekend, they are masters at the breakdown and you can tackle them back all you want but they just always seem to create space for players even when they are going back. This weekend the Stormers must be good in all areas of the game and really close down the space for the Crusaders and put pressure on their back 3.
Another area that the Stormers should focus on is their kicking, if we kick aimlessly this weekend we WILL get punished so a lot of pressure will be put on Peter Grant and Joe to put some good kicks in and not give that back 3 of the Crusaders to punish us on the attack. But to be honest I reckon that this is not the best of Crusaders teams and we should be helped by the fact that the Crusaders this week had to travel back to NZ from Pretoria so you have to think that it is the Stormers team that will be the fresher of the 2 teams.
But I am expecting an amazing battle with the Stormers out to prove a point and this weekend could really cement their position as title contenders as a win away against the Crusaders could prove just how far they have come as a team and that they now have the ability to beat the best away from home.
Mickeynelster said on April 11, 2012
I think its not so much as being scared, but rather being scared that the Ref would penalise them IF they drive over the ruck and one of them ends on the ground.
Wondering1 said on April 11, 2012
I would not say scared at all. It’s actually clever and works well against NZ sides. Not sure it will work against the aussie sides though.
McLook said on April 11, 2012
See my blog for my view on this; second last entry entitled: “Stormers showed the way.”
It’s about staying on your feet and forcing the opponents backwards. It’s also about turning the attackers in the tackle.
It’s the primary reason in my opinion why the stormers are winning matches with defense. It is also the reason why the are the team with the lowest penalty count against them.
JohanMelMuller said on April 11, 2012
Yeah I know what you mean, but for me the Stormers really can cause the opposition real trouble if they choose the right moments to collectively drive over the ball but yes I understand that comes with a chance of giving away penalties but I reckon that it could be a risk worth taking as turnover ball is one of the best to attack with.
McLook said on April 11, 2012
The Stormers is so far the only team in the top 5 of the log who are yet to earn a bonus point for scoring 4 tries per match. Considering their place on the lo they are pretty poor at building (constructing) tries.
This (inability to construct tries) might come to bite them in the semi-finals and/or quarters.
I sometimes also get the feeling they focus to much on defense and not enough on attack.
However they have been able to score tries when they need to and do contest for turnover at the tackle ball when behind and/or early in the match.
Once they take the lead they seem to be happy just to defend and to force the opposition back at the breakdowns.
hanjooveres said on April 11, 2012
When I watched the Stormers vs Highlanders I saw the most insane defensive effort ever…we were amazing, and I wouldn’t want to change anything….we won comprehensively ? why would you suggest changing that
uysh said on April 11, 2012
I tend to agree with McLook. Whatever they are doing right now is working. The Highlanders are the best team currently at the ruck situation and we managed to pull it through. I think it is in the way we tackle that we create the momentum, it’s not just tackling, driving them backwards in the tackle is a huge advantage. We cannot risk the field position by trying to steal the ball and then get penalised for it. I did notice at times we did ruck over the ball and won the turnover, so I don’t think it’s totally out of their plans.
We also cannot just rely on creating things from turnover ball. I would prefer us having more posession, so rather than create turnovers, protect our ball better. I’m more for protecting our own ball than stealing the ball from rucks.
johncomyn said on April 11, 2012
I thought the kicking into spaces and the chasing was excellent last week. The only aimless kick I can recall (where we came under severe pressure) was by Habana.
UlrichZA said on April 11, 2012
The Highlanders coach warned the Crusaders this week of the Stormers’ tackling technique, mentioning that the stormers hold players up and drive them back.
I reckon the Crusaders will take heed by going into the collisions as low as possible and falling down and creating chances by recycling quickly.
Sadly I feel this week we will lose.
abbaz said on April 12, 2012
100%. Spot on McLook. The Bulls and Chiefs are just one win away from toppling the unbeaten Stormers. They simply just have change their approach. Also, the Higlanders last week lacked variety in their attack. Crusaders won’t. See what a few clever kicks can do to the most resolute defense. read http://wicketmaiden.com/stormers-cape-town-stadium-newlands/