THE Stormers proved once again that defence, when applied with precision and trust, can become an attacking weapon after they swamped the Reds in Brisbane at the weekend.
In recent Super Rugby seasons the Cape side has had the tightest defence in the competition, but this year they have not only been satisfied to stop ball-carriers, they've set out to knock them back. Way back. That key difference puts the Stormers on attack, even when they don't have the ball.
The Reds discovered this to their cost on Friday, just as the Highlanders did two weeks before. The Stormers earned penalties and scored tries because of the pressure they applied and only the bloody-minded refusal to fade saved reigning champion Reds from a heavier defeat.
The squeeze the Stormers put on the Reds ensured that the champions suffered too many turnovers, and crucially, made several poor decisions under bombardment by Stormers tacklers.
"Our mindset is such that we don't just tackle for the sake of stopping an opponent, we tackle to get the ball back," said Stormers coach Allister Coetzee.
"What we're trying to achieve, besides conceding points, is to reset our attack as quickly as possible and we do this by making sure our tackling is about gaining momentum and pressurising opponents."
Stormers stun the Reds
THE Stormers proved once again that defence, when applied with precision and trust, can become an attacking weapon after they swamped the Reds in Brisbane at the weekend.
In recent Super Rugby seasons the Cape side has had the tightest defence in the competition, but this year they have not only been satisfied to stop ball-carriers, they've set out to knock them back. Way back. That key difference puts the Stormers on attack, even when they don't have the ball.
The Reds discovered this to their cost on Friday, just as the Highlanders did two weeks before. The Stormers earned penalties and scored tries because of the pressure they applied and only the bloody-minded refusal to fade saved reigning champion Reds from a heavier defeat.
The squeeze the Stormers put on the Reds ensured that the champions suffered too many turnovers, and crucially, made several poor decisions under bombardment by Stormers tacklers.
"Our mindset is such that we don't just tackle for the sake of stopping an opponent, we tackle to get the ball back," said Stormers coach Allister Coetzee.
"What we're trying to achieve, besides conceding points, is to reset our attack as quickly as possible and we do this by making sure our tackling is about gaining momentum and pressurising opponents."
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