The Stormers want to hit the ground running and pick up points at the start of the 2026-27 URC, but John Dobson’s men must first grasp playing on synthetic pitches again.
The Capetonians begin their campaign on Friday night against Connacht in Galway, followed by a trip to Edinburgh, before a three-match stretch in Cape Town leading into the international break.
They kicked off last season at home with a 35-0 rout of Leinster, the first of eight straight wins before a mid-season wobble of three successive derby defeats.
Speaking from Ireland on Tuesday, Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman told the media: “We’re still lucky at this stage with the conditions on this side. Probably the biggest challenge for us in the first two games is that we’re on a 4G pitch.
“I think that’s probably the biggest challenge for us: adapting to the surface, not being away from home.
ALSO: Stormers clued up on Connacht threat
“We’ve had terrible starts and finished well. We’ve had great starts. We’ve had dips in the middle. Even if we’re starting at home or away, in the first game or second game of the competition there are going to be some mistakes,” he added.
“We’re going for whatever we can get out of this tour, but we need to try to hit the ground running and try to get away with points in the next two games.”
MORE: Zas eyes special W in milestone outing
The Stormers trained on a 4G surface on Tuesday, after preparing on a 2G pitch 24 hours earlier in preparation for Friday’s clash at The Sportsground.
Snyman said the artificial turf affects timing, breakdown work, scrum set-ups and the tempo of play, with a focus on adapting as quickly as possible.
“The ball sort of bobbles around. Scrums, the speed of the ball – it all changes. If you’re defending, the team you’re playing against can generate speed because you can’t really get grip with your boots when you’re making tackles.
PLUS: Snyman excited for injection of Spead
“There are a lot of intricate things that are different if you don’t train on it every day and don’t play on it regularly.
“But it also doesn’t help to make too much of a thing about it. You have to go out and play the game.
“We’re aware of one or two things we’ve learned from it previously, and we’re just trying to make those adjustments.”
The post 4G a big challenge for Stormers appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Stormers want to hit the ground running and pick up points at the start of the 2026-27 URC, but John Dobson’s men must first grasp playing on synthetic pitches again.
The post 4G a big challenge for Stormers appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
