Its amazing how often the top rugby brains arrive at the same conclusions as that rugby sage Beeno!!
You will recall how I said the Stormer's forwards were covering the puny Stormers backline. I also said the Stormers backline didnt shape against the better backlines in the comp.
Venter wrote this interesting piece re contrasting styles for Supersport:
At the start of the season, few would have predicted that the Stomers’ showdown with the Lions in the first week of June would prove a top-of-the-table, South African conference-deciding encounter.
While the Stormers are on the cusp of securing their third conference title since the format came into effect in 2011, the Lions are unquestionably the season’s surprise package. Overnight, Johan Ackermann’s men have replaced the Cheetahs as everyone’s second favourite team in South Africa.
On Saturday in Cape Town, two sides with vastly contrasting styles of play will collide. The match-up is a mouth-watering prospect, as the Stormers and Lions are on opposite ends of the spectrum. It would not be overly simplistic to state that it will be the Stormers’ defence against the Lions’ attack.
The Stormers have waxed lyrical of late in terms of embracing a more expansive game. However, to be blunt, they just move the ball to the end of the field without any penetration. The fact of the matter is that the Cape-based side have scored the second-least number of tries this season – 26. Only the bottom-placed Western Force have scored fewer five-pointers over the current campaign. (Some food for thought for the errant Dr Mozzzz who has failed to grasp the situation)
A water-tight defence coupled with set-piece supremacy and a flyhalf in Demetri Catrakilis who kicks beautifully and is a Deadeye Dick in front of goal, has put the Stormers into this favourable position.
The Lions, on the other hand, definitely employ an expansive style and have prospered this season by throwing the ball around and playing the game at a high-tempo. Former coaches John Mitchell and Carlos Spencer had an amazing effect on the Lions’ attack-minded approach and that legacy lives on.
CATRAKILIS VERSUS JANTJIES – AN INTRIGUING SUBPLOT
In Elton Jantjies they boast a flyhalf, unlike Catrakilis, who takes the ball to the line and asks questions of the defence. Jantjies is unequivocally the form flyhalf in South Africa, at present, and comes up with moments of magic. By very definition Jantjies is unpredictable. In contrast, Catrakilis could be typecast as a boring number ten but if boring wins big games, which one would you prefer?
The Lions have enjoyed a brilliant season but a lot of their success has been built around them running the opposition off their feet. I admire Ackermann and his assistant Swys de Bruin for wanting to play a better brand of rugby but I have my doubts as to whether that game model alone can win Super Rugby.
If the Lions are able to execute their attacking strategy against the Stormers’ defence and ultimately prevail, then it will be a magnificent achievement for the men from Emirates Airline Park.
The Stormers defend by loading the frontline with numbers. They boast limited line speed but don’t contest the breakdown very hard. As a direct consequence, they have a lot of players on their feet.
As the Stormers’ line speed is slow, and they don’t commit many numbers to the breakdown, they seldom fall out of line, so an offloading and angled-running game doesn’t really work against them.
The New Zealand-styled Lions love to offload in or before contact but because the Stormers have so many defenders on their feet, a concept instilled by former defence coach Jacques Nienaber, I maintain that they are the one team which the offloading game doesn’t generally work well against.
To draw an analogy, the Lions are the Bath of South African rugby. Bath were on fire during the season and played an attacking brand which was beautiful to behold. They summarily destroyed Leicester Tigers in the semifinal.
However, in the Aviva Premiership decider they came up against a Stormers-esque side in Saracens and their attacking threat was nullified owing to Saracens’ miserly defence and territory-based game.
In essence, the Lions/Bath generate field position owing to their attack, whereas the Stormers/Saracens generate field position owing to their tactical kicking game.
If you were to back a team from South Africa to win the competition, smart money would be on the Stormers rather than the Lions.
Owing to the Stormers’ style of play they are a lot less reliant on individual players to spark them into action and generate momentum during a match, because their game plan is more structured and revolves around set-piece dominance, kicking and a tight defence.
The Stormers are system-driven, whereas the Lions are more player-driven. The latter side, for arguments sake, will wait for Ruan Combrinck to make a line break, Warren Whiteley to fire or Jantjies to sidestep a defender. While it makes for riveting viewing, is it enough to win competitions?
Quite Frankly I will not be crying if the Lions win this one. They are showing South Africa that we can attack through the backs - as we always used to do. All credit to them.
