Springboks hopeful on where Stormers’ clash with Glasgow Warriors will be won and lost
Stormers tighthead prop Neethling Fouche.
An excellent scrummaging performance is imperative if the Stormers want to be successful when they take on Glasgow Warriors in their United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-final clash on Saturday.
That was the word from the Cape Town-based outfit’s tighthead prop Neethling Fouche ahead of the highly anticipated encounter at Scotstoun.
Fouche, who was part of a Springboks alignment camp earlier this year, has been at the forefront of the Stormers’ forward efforts this season and their scrum has been one of their undoubted strengths.
Stormers shining in the scrums
Their prowess at the set-piece has won them the most penalties in that aspect of the game in the entire competition this season and he highlighted the importance of their pack being in peak form on a slick artificial turf.
“The scrum has been operating nicely for us this season, it is something that we take pride in and we are going to need it again on Saturday, playing on a 4G pitch which offers a different feel,” Fouche told the Stormers‘ official website.
“Play-offs often come down to small margins. From the first scrum to the last, we will have to front up because Glasgow also has a solid scrum. We will have to be at our best as a pack, tight and connected.”
With it being a knockout encounter, the match is likely to be a closely fought battle and Fouche believes the Stormers’ discipline will have to be at its best if they want to get the better of their hosts.
“One thing we’ve really got better these last couple of weeks, especially on tour, is our discipline,” said the 31-year-old. “We’ve tended to give away silly penalties which puts us under pressure.
Springbok to ease Stormers’ injury crisis for URC quarter-final clash
“So it’s important to keep it simple, not giving away those little penalties that allow teams to kick into our 22. We must make teams work to get into our 22, which brings our defence into play.”
Although the Stormers were crowned inaugural URC champions in 2022 and were runners-up last year, they have struggled in Glasgow as they lost to the Warriors on their two previous visits to Scotstoun.
However, both those matches were hard-fought battles and Fouche expects another tough encounter in this weekend’s quarter-final.
“Scotstoun is not an easy place to play at. We’ve faced Glasgow there two times and lost two times. Both games were closely contested. The thing we can take away from those is that we are in the mix. It’s like I’ve said about putting everything together,” he said.
‘Have to be clinical’
“You just have to be clinical when you are playing overseas, even more than when you are playing at home, where you get more chances. Overseas, you are only going to get so many chances to attack in the 22 and you have to come away with points.
“A problem for us this season has been not really taking our chances, but it has been better in these last two games. It’s hopefully something we can take into the play-offs.
“Glasgow are a quality side. They were competing to finish in the top two for most of the season. They are very well coached by Franco Smith. It’s not going to be easy. They will give us nothing.
“We have to go and work to earn it. Hopefully it’s a cracking game. Glasgow play a very expansive brand of rugby that is easy on the eye. They are also a very fit team that make you work hard.”