Stormers Seek Scrum Supremacy in High-Stakes URC Quarter-Final Clash with Glasgow Warriors
As the Stormers prepare to face off against the Glasgow Warriors in their United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-final showdown this Saturday, tighthead prop Neethling Fouche has emphasized the critical importance of a dominant scrummaging performance.
Fouche, who was part of a Springboks alignment camp earlier this year, has been at the forefront of the Stormers’ formidable forward pack this season. The Cape Town-based outfit’s scrum has been a standout strength, earning them the most penalties in that aspect of the game across the entire URC competition.
“The scrum has been operating nicely for us this season, it is something that we take pride in and we are going to need it again on Saturday, playing on a 4G pitch which offers a different feel,” Fouche told the Stormers’ official website.
With the match set to be played at Scotstoun, a venue where the Stormers have struggled in the past, the 31-year-old emphasized the need for his team to be at their best in the set-piece battle.
“Play-offs often come down to small margins. From the first scrum to the last, we will have to front up because Glasgow also has a solid scrum. We will have to be at our best as a pack, tight and connected.”
Discipline will also be crucial, as Fouche acknowledged the Stormers’ tendency to concede unnecessary penalties in recent weeks.
“We’ve tended to give away silly penalties which puts us under pressure. So it’s important to keep it simple, not giving away those little penalties that allow teams to kick into our 22.”
The Stormers’ inaugural URC championship triumph in 2022 and their runners-up finish last year have not translated to success in Glasgow, where they have lost on their two previous visits. However, Fouche remains confident that his side can turn the tide and secure a place in the semi-finals.
“Scotstoun is not an easy place to play at. We’ve faced Glasgow there two times and lost two times. Both games were closely contested. The thing we can take away from those is that we are in the mix. It’s like I’ve said about putting everything together.”
With the stakes high in this knockout encounter, Fouche emphasized the need for clinical execution, particularly when operating away from home.
“Overseas, you are only going to get so many chances to attack in the 22 and you have to come away with points.”
As the Stormers look to overcome their historical struggles in Glasgow, Fouche and his teammates will be fully focused on delivering a dominant scrummaging performance to lay the foundation for a successful URC quarter-final clash.
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