DHL Stormers Coach And Player Offer Insight Into Irish Rugby Playing Style
DHL Stormers Coach And Player Offer Insight Into Irish Rugby Playing Style
DHL Stormers skills coach and performance analyst Labeeb Levy and winger Suleiman Hartzenberg break down their upcoming clash with Ulster in the BKT URC.
DHL Stormers skills coach and performance analyst Labeeb Levy knows a thing or two about analyzing opposition.
Thus, when asked about his views on Irish Rugby and, more specifically, the playing patterns employed by their provincial sides, his response pinpointed just why Irish Rugby is in such a healthy spot.
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Highlighting the consistency and synchronicity with which the Irish sides play, Levy delved into a few specific areas his team focuses on when facing Irish opposition.
“Obviously, the Irish teams have been in form over the past couple of years, and they seem to have a similar DNA, which is a multiphase approach like the national team," he said. “They also put a heavy pressure on the breakdown, so we are aware that the threat is coming.”
Looking ahead to their clash with an Ulster side that undergone a major coaching change over the past few weeks with Richie Murphy replacing Dan McFarland as head coach, Levy said, “They execute a good kicking game with their 9s and 10s, and in this team (Ulster), they have a left-footed option.
“They have threats across the field, which seems to be the nature of all of the Irish teams at the moment, and their rugby is in a good space.
“So, from our side, we are focusing on ourselves this coming week to get our things right and ready for all of the various threats that we have identified."
Highlighting the tight nature of the budding Stormers and Ulster rivalry, Levy said his team is excited to welcome the Irish side to Cape Town this weekend.
“As I said, they have the ability to keep the ball well, and we are getting them on Week 2 of their tour; we are excited to have them because they are the one team over the last couple of seasons that has stretched us.
“Last year, it was a very tough game, and the year before in the semis, it was at the death, so we are not just going to rock up and win against any Irish team."
Echoing his coach's sentiments, the uber-exciting 20-year-old talent that is Suleiman Hartzenberg said, “As coach Labeeb said, they all have a similar DNA, but I think they do alter their approaches to the teams, and we have definitely seen something different from this week.
“I think there will definitely be out-the-back options regardless, so we will definitely apply pressure whenever we can.”
