If there is one thing that the Stormers need to fix after their 40-3 pak at Loftus last weekend, it’s their lineout.
Their setpiece execution let them down badly against the Bulls, turning over possession and losing out when they got into attacking positions.
Usually, you can point a damning finger at the hooker for not finding his jumpers, who were Salmaan Moerat, JD Schickerling and SA Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit.
But assistant coach Dawie Snyman says it’s not only Springbok No.2 Bongi Mbonambi who is to blame for their problems.
He explains: “It is combinations. Some of it is calls, some of it is a throw, some of it is in the lift.”
“It is something we need to sort out.
MISERABLE PERFORMANCE: Stormers lock Salmaan Moerat, left. Photo: BACKPAGEPIX
“It was a catalyst in terms of losing possession when we were on attack in the Bulls’ 22 where we could have put pressure on them.
“Next thing you lose a lineout and you are back in your own half.
“That took away a bit of our energy. In the second half we won our lineouts, but we didn’t do enough with the possession. We want to make sure we get it right this weekend.”
While they sort out their lineouts, the Stormers will look to use their scrum to boss the Lions’ new-look pack following a large number of their stars moving to Europe and Japan.
LOFTUS NIGHTMARE: Stormers starting lock JD Schickerling. Photo: MUZI NTOMBELA/BACKPAGEPIX
Snyman, though, says they won’t be taking anything for granted as they look to get back to winning ways.
He says: “Over the last few seasons, we’ve been doing really well in the scrum. It’s something we want to use.
“But the Lions are renowned for their scrum, so we need to be sharp in that area.
They did well in Argentina, so that will be a challenge for us.
“Whoever it was we were playing on Saturday, we would have to step up and bounce back.
“There have been a lot of personnel changes in the squad, but against Jaguares they showed what they could do.
“To go to Buenos Aires and face up to that pack the way they did, we have to execute in that area. It’s not going to be easy.”