Stormers chase perfect end to overseas URC trip against Benetton

The Stormers are not scoffing at the five points they picked up against Zebre in Parma on Saturday evening after winning 31-13, but they know an improved performance will be needed for this weekend’s final overseas duel in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

Benetton awaits in Treviso, and after securing five points for the first time on tour, the Cape side will be eager to finish with a bang and head home with three wins from their first away trip of the season.

It’s the perfect opportunity for the Stormers to exorcise their touring woes; however, even if they fall short, they can still be reasonably satisfied with the results they’ve produced so far.

They lead the URC standings on 19 points from four matches, having conceded only three tries, scored 126 points, and allowed just 23 against them for a remarkable points differential of 103. Munster are second, also unbeaten on 19 points, but with a much smaller differential of 34. The two sides will meet at the end of November when the URC resumes following the international break.

Reflecting on the Zebre clash, Stormers director of rugby John Dobson said they’ll gladly take the full points but admitted his team veered off script at times by not being direct enough in their play.

“We looked a bit flat in the first half, and I don’t know if it was because of the late kick-off or Zebre putting so much pressure on us,” Dobson said.

“I hate the term ‘overplayed’, but in some areas we probably pushed it a little when we needed to be more direct. They seduced us into seeing space and then closed it up very well.”

“Some of the pleasing aspects of our game were the lineouts and maul — those are going well. We got some penalties at scrum time too, but they came a bit later than in the earlier games. We didn’t have it quite as easy there.”

Dobson added that they’re happy with their position on the log and credited their defensive effort for much of their success.

While a wayward pass led to Zebre’s only try, the Stormers’ tackling — especially their double hits and scrambling — disrupted the Italians’ attack. Combined with the tireless work of flanker Paul de Villiers, lock Adré Smith, and both hookers at the breakdown, they did well to restrict the plucky home side.

“They’re a tricky team to play at home — they’ve beaten Edinburgh and the Lions here.

"We’ll take a five-try win, even though some might say we were lucky with the intercept try. We were held up a couple of times over the line and weren’t at our most clinical, but we’ll lift ourselves for a big battle in Treviso.”