Better calls at scrum time will give Stormers smoother ride against Zebre

Leighton Koopman

There’s no use crying over spilt milk, but the Stormers will hope the officiating in their second United Rugby Championship (URC) tour match, especially around the scrums, will give them a better chance at competing against Zebre this weekend.

Official answers to the questions surrounding the scrum calls from the Cape side's previous match against the Ospreys yielded that the Stormers should have been rewarded more for their dominance.

Despite the missed opportunities, the team remains focused on improving their overall gameplay as they search for their first win of the new season.

"We have had some clarity on about five scrum calls that were incorrectly blown, but I don’t want to make this a big thing because anyone can make a mistake," Rito Hlungwani, Stormers forwards coach, remarked on Tuesday from Parma.

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"But we asked what we need to do better (in those five scrums) or this player need to do or if it’s the right call. We were right on four of them (the queries) where we felt we should’ve gotten the penalty.

“In saying that, we still look for improvement every single game. There are definitely things we could’ve done better."

The Stormers have arrived in Italy on Sunday and will have a full week of training with a rest day scheduled for tomorrow. They face the Italian club side Zebre on Saturday evening at 8.35pm in the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

Hlungwani expressed a balanced perspective, acknowledging that the controllable aspects of their game need addressing.

"We struggled to get out of our half, and our exit plays were not as good as we want them to be. When you start giving a team plenty of attacking opportunities in your 22-meter area, something somewhere is going to break. That is one area we could’ve been so much better we feel."

As the Stormers ponder potential changes for the Zebre clash, they are cautious not to underestimate their opponents. Another loss on tour would spell another disastrous start to the URC. Zebre is not to be taken lightly, as they present a multi-faceted game that challenges defences and they maintain possession for extended periods to frustrate their opponents.

"They are a multi-phase team and keep the ball for long so they’ll challenge your defence. They are a dangerous side. You can also see the difference their new coaching team is making. The two Italian sides (in the URC) are very physical, and they’ll challenge us in that department," Hlungwani explained.

Fortunately, the team has no serious injuries to report ahead of this crucial match.

"We have a niggle here and there, but there are no injuries to players ahead of this weekend," Hlungwani confirmed.

With a week of preparation in the beautiful setting of Parma, the Stormers are aiming to refine their strategy, solidify their defence, and secure their maiden win of the season on Saturday.