Stormers Director of Rugby, John Dobson, has brought former Richmond AFL player and assistant coach Steven Morris to Cape Town to assist the Stormers in developing their aerial skills.
Morris has been brought in to address the team's recent tactical struggles under the high ball, particularly following their defeat to the Sharks, where they were outplayed in the air.
It is expected that Morris will provide specialised insights from Australian Rules Football, where aerial contests are central to the game (averaging 150–180 per match).
To sharpen the Stormers' ability to catch cleanly and, crucially, to react more effectively to "scraps" (loose balls) after aerial contests,” Dobson said.
“It’s not just about catching the ball cleanly, but also about what happens when it spills loose after an aerial contest.,” Dobson said.
“There are far more high balls being kicked now, and many of them aren’t caught cleanly. It becomes what we call scraps, and then it’s about how you react immediately, on attack and defence.”