Cheetahs wary of Stormers scrum

Editor

Cheetahs head coach Franco Smith expects the Stormers to target his team in the scrums when they meet in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

The Stormers' two powerful front-rows demolished the Bulls in their opener in Cape Town at the weekend and Smith expects them to use the set-piece as an attacking launchpad against his side as well.

Smith was impressed with his own forwards' performance in the scrums against a highly-rated Jaguares pack and is ready for the Stormers' expected onlsaught in that area.

“We are a team that is growing and is building and while we know they have a good scrum, we will face up to it," he told Supersport.

"We have players who have to face these challenges in order to grow.

"It may be a bigger thing if winning was our only objective but while we want to win we have young players we need to blood and expose to these pressures.

“Saying that, I don’t think the Stormers will change the way they approach the game and are likely to bring on their strong front row in the second half to continue their onslaught.

“We scrummed well last week and we’re slowly finding our feet in this competition and the players will get better under the pressure. But the Stormers pack is very special at the moment.”

Smith said he was impressed with the Stormers' performance against the Bulls.

“They are definitely a team in form and did exceptional work on Saturday,” he added.

"Their set-pieces are good and the physicality that someone like Eben Etzebeth and Schalk Burger brings is exceptional.

"The depth they have on the bench in the scrum makes a difference and in the backs, the freedom that Cheslin Kolbe and Juan de Jongh had at the Sevens is busy influencing their play on attack.

“They play 15-man rugby and are a very well-rounded team at the moment.”