DHL Stormers Coach And Player Offer Insight Into Irish Rugby Playing Style

Labeeb Levy, the performance analyst and skills coach for the DHL Stormers, has a lot of experience analyzing opponents.

That’s why, when questioned about Irish Rugby, and particularly the style of play used by their provincial teams, his answer made it clear why the sport is doing so well.

Levy focused on a few key elements that his squad concentrates on when playing Irish opponents, emphasizing the teams’ consistency and synchronicity.

“Clearly, the Irish teams have been playing well over the last few years, and they appear to share the national team’s multiphase approach and comparable DNA.

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 who have 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 were 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 two of their tour; we are excited to have them because they are the one team over the last couple of seasons that have 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.”