They will be light and bright and cavalier, as you would expect from a team that is big on mobility and short on beef. The Stormers were terribly disappointing last year and their problems started with their inability to win quality ball. In theCurrie Cup, Western Province (the domestic version of the Stormers) elected to cut their coat according to their cloth and with the Lions and Sharks joined a running revolution. That will continue into the Super 14.
OFF-SEASON RECRUITING
Veteran wing Breyton Paulse has returned from a stint in France and his experience and proven finishing will be useful. Former Springbok lock Selborne Boome has also returned from France but he is more of an athlete than a bruiser and the Stormers still seem to be short on grunt up front. Last season they could not settle on a first five-eighths and have tried to solve this by signing Brent Russell from the Sharks.
BEST THING GOING FOR THEM
The Incredible Schalk is back. Schalk Burger, the 2005 IRB Player of the Year, is playing again after a year off with a serious neck injury. He is hugely important to both the Stormers and the Springboks and last year was conspicuous by his absence. With the equally talented Luke Watson, the Stormers have some of the best loose forwards in the competition.
MAJOR FAILING LAST YEAR AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO FIX IT
As mentioned they had a powderpuff pack, no Burger and no first-five general. They were hopeless. This year not much has changed apart from Burger's return. They have not sorted out their tight five and in warm-up matches Russell has not worked out at No 10.
Russell was used by the Sharks as an impact player covering every position in the backline and it looks like he will end up in the same role with the Stormers.
PROSPECTS
Lower table finish. They have a tough draw, no tight five to speak of, no first-five and very little hope.
