OPINION: Stormers are the benchmark because of quality back-up, depth

The standard of rugby set by the defending champion Stormers in the United Rugby Championship (URC) to date is what the Sharks (and the other South African teams) should be aspiring to as they attempt to become a major force in European rugby.

The Stormers have enjoyed a brilliant start to life in the URC, by powering to the inaugural title last season, and have backed that success up by being the second best side in the competition so far this season, just a step behind Leinster.

Last season the Sharks finished a credible fifth on the URC log, but quite a few of their wins, despite playing with a loaded team of Springboks, were unconvincing and they were then unceremoniously dumped out in the quarterfinals by the Bulls.

On paper and when at full strength the Sharks are the strongest of the South African franchises, but they have been completely overshadowed by a very impressive Stormers team.

Back-up players

Where the Stormers have excelled, and the Sharks have failed, is when they have been without their Boks, with the Stormers’ impressive crop of home grown back-up players stepping up to the plate whenever they are needed.

A perfect example was about a month ago when the Stormers hosted Scarlets in a URC match in Cape Town, with the hosts having none of their Bok contingent available, while the visitors brought a very experienced side full of Welsh internationals for the game.

A number of South African pundits predicted a tough match for the Stormers, with a few expecting the Scarlets to edge the match.

Instead, the Stormers’ youngsters put in a brilliant first half showing to take a 29-7 lead into the break, and despite a fightback from the visitors in the second half, still comfortably held on for a 36-19 bonus point win.

In complete contrast on the same weekend, the Sharks, without their Boks, were embarrassed by a visiting Cardiff team, crashing to a massive 35-0 defeat in Durban in what proved to be coach Sean Everitt’s final game in charge.

If the Sharks are to reach the level of the Stormers, they have to build a strong ‘second’ team that is able to perform at the highest level when their Boks are inevitably unavailable.