The DHL Stormers are delighted with JD Schickerling’s impact since the towering lock returned to Cape Town from a stint in Japan. DYLAN JACK reports.
Schickerling completed an impressive 80 minutes in his first game back at Cape Town Stadium as the DHL Stormers romped to a bonus-point victory against 2023 Vodacom URC champions Munster.
The 29-year-old has combined with Ruben van Heerden to shore up the Stormers lineout. What was a problem area for the side over the past two seasons has become a real strength, as they completed their three-match tour with a 100% success rate and started to cause their opposition isssues with Schickerling rising high to grab a few crucial steals.
“He has been massive,” forwards coach Rito Hlungwani said. “I cannot begin to emphasise the quality that he has brought in, especially to our defensive lineout. The amount of time we spend on contesting lineouts is balanced with our attacking lineouts, he takes lots of pride in that analysis.
“He has given us a nudge up in terms of how we contest. We have improved quite a lot compared to the last couple of years.
“I am quite excited to see how far he is going to push. He’s quite passionate about contesting lineouts, even though he enjoys calling at times. He and Adre Smith have embraced that role of contesting and defending lineouts, making sure that the standard is similar to our attacking lineouts. He has really improved us quite a lot.”
The Stormers did experience a speedwobble in their lineouts against Munster, but Hlungwani that was more down to a new combination of Schickerling and Smith bedding in, with Van Heerden on the bench.
“It was more our issues, rather than the pressure that Munster put on us. There weren’t any lineouts that the stole, whereas on the other side of it, we stole quite a few,” Hlungwani said.
“It was just an issue with our timing. We had a change in caller. JD hadn’t called in the first two or three games and Ruben was on the bench. There were just some small timing issues and that’s quite easy to fix.”
Having bounced back from a tough tour with a comfortable win, the Stormers will next face defending champions Glasgow Warriors at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Saturday.
Glasgow came from behind to snatch a losing bonus point against the Sharks in Durban and Hlungwani is wary of what the Scots will bring in the winelands.
“We know that Glasgow is a good side and really well-coached. It’s definitely going to be a massive challenge for us. I’m sure they have certain goals that they want to achieve on this tour and clearly they want to make sure that they get some points. They are a well-drilled team.
“This is another massive game. We need all the supporters and spectators to come out and support us in Stellenbosch.”
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
