sportskeeda
The Stormers are preparing for the daunting task of containing English sensation Marcus Smith when they face Harlequins in their Champions Cup clash in London on Saturday evening.
England flyhalf Smith is considered one of the most thrilling players in global rugby, and his unpredictable style poses a significant challenge for defenses. Therefore, the Stormers must perform at their best if they hope to secure an upset victory against the English Premiership team.
Stormers assistant coach Norman Laker acknowledged that despite having encountered Smith on two occasions, they still find it difficult to predict his actions on any given day.
“It’s hard to know what he’s going to do if he himself isn’t sure what to expect,” Laker explained at a Stormers press briefing earlier this week.
“We’ve played against him twice—in the British and Irish Lions match at Cape Town Stadium (in 2021) and against Harlequins two seasons ago (in the Champions Cup). From what I’ve observed, we recognize he is a top-tier player.
“We watch him frequently at the international level, so we have a fair idea of what to anticipate from him and how we should prepare to give ourselves the best chance in this match.”
Dynamic Players
Laker noted that with the Stormers featuring several exciting and unpredictable attacking players, their squad would be familiar with the type of plays Smith might initiate, having honed their skills during training.
“We’re fortunate to have players like Warrick (Gelant), Sacha (Feinberg-Mngomezulu), Manie (Libbok), and Jean-Luc du Plessis training at the HPC (High Performance Centre) in Bellville,” Laker mentioned.
“These four are exceptional talents, and at times even they can be uncertain about their next move, which is beneficial preparation for encountering someone like Marcus Smith.
“He possesses the ability to create opportunities from nothing or exploit gaps in defense. He won’t be unfamiliar to many of our players, as they have faced him internationally. With his playing style, putting him under pressure can lead to one or two errors.”
If the Stormers can disrupt Smith’s performance, they’ll enhance their chances of neutralizing Harlequins’ attacking momentum. However, failing to do so may lead to a challenging evening for them, especially given the adverse weather conditions anticipated.
“Marcus is undeniably a major threat; when he hits his stride, he can propel a team forward, and they are a formidable attacking unit,” Laker remarked.
“The weather conditions differ from what we currently experience in South Africa, so we also have to focus on ourselves and our approach to the game. If Marcus is on form, the entire team benefits, and they are a skilled outfit.”
