Rugby: Blues need tighter response to the gathering storm in Cape Town

Steven Luatua of the Blues. Photo / Getty Images

Nothing stirs South African rugby supporters as much as watching their men muscle up and crush their opponents.

When the Bok or Super Rugby packs unite to engulf their rivals the boisterous noise in their stadiums rises to raucous levels. That passion draws everyone into the contest and has a habit of spilling over into the keyboards of those charged with reporting on matches.

Some of that euphoria has followed the Stormers after they opened their campaign with an away victory against their Bulls rivals from the Highveld. After a twitchy start, the Stormers collected their game and showed what a united scrum could do to pacify the Bulls' aggression.

It was a strong performance from a Stormers combination which has lost frontrowers Pat Cilliers, Brock Harris and Tiaan Liebenberg this season.

Steven Kitshoff, Scarra Ntubeni and Vincent Koch began against the Bulls with Springboks Frans Malherbe, Oliver Kebble, Wilco Louw and Alistair Vermaak all pushing for a place against the Blues in Cape Town on Sunday.

That strong opening performance drew reviews suggesting the Stormers scrum was the best it had been for years.

Forwards coach Matthew Proudfoot brushed away any cautious talk as he spoke about confidence in the pack's scrummaging and the lift that gave to the rest of the Stormers' play.

Coach Allister Coetzee was equally effusive about the physical response from his group who were without Schalk Burger, Eben Etzebeth, Kobus Van Wyk, Malherbe, Siya Kolisi and Nizaam Carr for most of the match.

Those noises will have flicked the interest of the Blues who have travelled to South Africa after losing their opening contest against the Chiefs.

There was a ragged look about the Blues backline although their pack was solid and gained strong traction from their All Blacks and experienced colleagues.

Loosehead prop Tony Woodcock was back in the fray after shoulder surgery, James Parsons anchored the scrum strongly and Angus Ta'avao then Charlie Faumuina ground out their work on the tighthead.

That group will be focused on more of the same with cohesion from the back five and a tighter game plan from the backs as the Blues look to steady their beginning to 2015.

They'll need to be organised to challenge a Stormers side taking their lead from No 8 Duane Vermeulen, who delivered a quick reminder of his influence in round one.

That impact drags his teammates to new levels and with steady halfback Nick Groom, powerful centres Damian de Allende and Juan de Jongh, the Stormers suggest they will be near the head of their conference.

Coach Coetzee said that would bring extra hope and pressure against the unfamiliar patterns of the Blues.

"Unlike previous seasons we made a very impressive start and that immediately heightens expectations. The challenge is to build on that performance ..."