Stormers preparing for kicking barrage from ‘old school’ Scarlets

In their upcoming United Rugby Championship clash against Scarlets at the Cape Town Stadium, the Stormers are preparing for a kicking-heavy strategy from the Welsh team. Scarlets, currently among the URC's lower-ranked teams, have made a remarkable turnaround this season, starting with a loss to fellow Welsh clubs Cardiff and Dragons.

However, they rebounded with a tight 27-26 victory against Benetton and a commanding 47-14 win over Newcastle Falcons in the Challenge Cup, largely driven by their exceptional kicking prowess, which is currently leading the URC in terms of kicking metres. Former Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson attributes Scarlets' aggressive kicking game to their "old school" heritage, drawing parallels to the legendary Welsh flyhalves of the past like Phil Bennett and Barry John, as well as their dominant performance in the Pro12 during the 2016-17 season under Wayne Pivac.

The Stormers recognize the significance of Scarlets' strong kicking game, which enables them to create counterattack opportunities. Consequently, Dobson emphasizes the need for the Stormers to be sharp in their accuracy and kick cycles, mirroring the tactics they employed in the past when kicking the ball to create chaos and space.

The Stormers have opted to rest their Springbok stars, Damian Willemse and Siya Kolisi, to manage their workload while also expanding their playing pool ahead of the demanding December-January period. Dobson acknowledges the importance of providing depth to his squad, given the strenuous schedule that lies ahead for the Springboks and the Stormers.

The team's focus is on giving the Boks a break, particularly as they are set to feature in the Nations Championship final at Twickenham on Sunday, and subsequently face the Sharks in their next fixture at Cape Town.