THE Stormers have been a joy to watch in recent games after ending a shocking losing streak – but the litmus test for John Dobson’s team is how they perform overseas, beginning with tomorrow night’s Champions Cup match against Racing 92 in Paris (10pm kick-off).
More than any South African side, the Stormers enjoy the green grass of home because they have packed-out stadiums and fanatical support.
The Sharks and Bulls are lucky if they get half the crowd the Stormers get, while the Lions play before scattered die-hard supporters at Ellis Park.
The Stormers are in Paris, where they are fighting for their lives in the Champions Cup – and they have to make this game count as it is the fourth and final round.
The Capetonians lie fourth and above the Sale Sharks and Racing, but below Toulon, Glasgow and Harlequins.
The Harlequins match in London signalled a low point for the Stormers under Dobson.
The previous week they had lost 24-14 to Toulon in a home game in Gqeberha, in disappointing fashion, and after being humiliated 53-16 by Quins, they returned home to much soul-searching.
It worked because the Stormers have not lost since. The Lions were seen off in Cape Town, the Sharks were beaten in a thriller also in the Cape, and the Sale Sharks were put to the sword magnificently in a 40-0 triumph last week.
But those wins were at home, and it is how the Stormers perform at the La Defense Area tomorrow night that will confirm if they are indeed a different beast.
Racing have not had a good Champions Cup, and are ninth in the Top 14 after winning just five of their 14 games.
Racing are nevertheless dangerous, and they play in probably the toughest domestic competition in the world.
They have a sprinkling of current France internationals, such as Gael Fickou and Cameron Woki, and a host of overseas internationals, including a bunch of Georgia forwards and England stars Owen Farrell and Henry Arundell.
Their backline is well-coached by famous French flyhalf Frederic Michalak and former All Black wing Joe Rokocoko, while former Stormers loose forward Hacjivah Dayimani is in the pack.
If the visitors are to prove they have indeed had a brave new dawn, they have to shake off any negative residue remaining from their unfortunate United Rugby Championship tour, which saw them lose to the Ospreys and Edinburgh.
Their sole win was against bottom-of-the-log Zebre.
Late last year, there was also a big loss to the Warriors in Glasgow in another URC game.
But assistant coach Dawie Snyman is positive that the 2025 Stormers vintage is different from the sorry lot that began the URC last year.
“We have turned a corner in how we play in overseas games,” said Snyman.
“We have learned a lot of lessons, not just when it comes to playing overseas, but in general.
“There were questions about our ability to play overseas, but last year, we beat both Stade Francais and Connacht away on 4G pitches.
“In playing in those conditions and on those surfaces, you start picking things up, little things that combine to become valuable.”
Given the Stormers’ bad start to the URC – they are in 10th on the table after eight games – if they make the playoffs, they will likely play the knockout games overseas.
So, the sooner they get proficient in overseas conditions, the better.
“We want to do well overseas and tour well. That’s going to be important for us as a squad going forward,” Snyman said.
But the proof of the pudding will be tomorrow night against Racing.
Meanwhile, AFP reports that former England captain Farrell will make his comeback from injury for Racing 92 against the Stormers, coach Stuart Lancaster said yesterday.
“He trained well today. He’s confident of being able to start the game,” Lancaster said of the flyhalf.
“He’ll maybe not play the full 80 minutes, because obviously he’s coming back from a long injury.” | Independent Media Sport