The Stormers have turned to an unlikely source in a bid to improve their skills in the air.
Coach John Dobson has brought in former Richmond assistant coach and player Steven Morris, who has a background in Aussie rules football, for a short-term stint to sharpen his side’s ability under the high ball ahead of their Vodacom URC clash against the Lions in Johannesburg on 28 February.
The move comes after the Cape side were outplayed tactically in the air during the second half of their last derby against the Sharks, where superior kicking and aerial pressure proved decisive.
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Dobson believes the nature of Aussie rules, where aerial contests are central, makes the crossover both logical and necessary.
“What people don’t realise about Aussie rules is that there are about 400 kicks in a game and there are usually between 150 and 180 aerial contests,” Dobson told Netwerk24.
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With contestable kicking now a dominant tactic in 15-man rugby, Dobson admits the Stormers have had to adapt quickly.
“It’s not just about catching the ball cleanly, but also about what happens when it spills loose after an aerial contest,” he explained.
“There are far more high balls being kicked now and many of them aren’t caught cleanly. It becomes what we call scraps, and then it’s about how you react immediately, on attack and defence.”
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
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