Dobson Explains Kolisi And de Villiers Stormers Pairing Against Sharks
Stormers director of rugby John Dobson believes Siya Kolisi and Paul de Villiers can complement each other in the loose trio, explaining the thinking behind his decision to pair the two flankers despite expectations that they would compete for the same position.
The selection combines Kolisi’s experience, physicality and ball-carrying ability with De Villiers’ specialist fetching skills, giving the Stormers a blend of strengths as they prepare for their upcoming challenges.
Kolisi has established himself as one of the leading loose forwards in world rugby, bringing extensive experience from the Springboks and his spells with the Stormers and Sharks.
Although traditionally associated with the blindside flank, his ability to carry strongly, make dominant tackles and contribute at the breakdown gives Dobson the flexibility to deploy him in different roles across the loose trio.
“Siya plays amazingly and has his own role as a six in the national team in the way he counter-rucks, and he gets turnovers through tackles,” said Dobson.
“He’s not a classic stealer, is he?
“His carrying is really good. It’s a part of his game that has got better since he was here,” Dobson added.
The Stormers boss believes Kolisi’s physical contributions mean he possesses qualities often associated with a number seven, even if his game does not necessarily revolve around traditional breakdown pilfering.
“In some ways, he plays like a seven with the carrying and stopping power. We really felt we wanted an out-and-out fetcher, and we simply couldn’t leave Paul out,” he added.
De Villiers’ selection reflects the impact he has made at the Stormers, with his work at the breakdown providing a different dimension to the pack. His ability to compete for possession, disrupt opposition ball and win turnovers could prove particularly valuable alongside Kolisi, whose strengths include his ball-carrying, defensive work and ability to generate momentum.
The young flanker made his Springbok debut against England at Ellis Park, replacing Kolisi after the Springbok captain was a late withdrawal. The occasion marked another significant milestone in De Villiers’ development.
Rather than viewing the two players as direct competitors, Dobson sees their contrasting attributes as an opportunity to build a more balanced loose trio.
“We could’ve looked at Evan (Roos) at seven, but we wanted Siya to play this game, and he wants to play this game,” Dobson said.
“We’ll mix and match it over the next few weeks. We also have Deon Fourie, who can play at eight.”
Dobson stressed that the selection was also about rewarding De Villiers for his performances while ensuring Kolisi could return to the field in a role suited to his strengths.
“We wanted the specialist fetcher at six and wanted to reward Paul for what he has done for us, but Siya will be absolutely comfortable at seven for us.”
The combination offers the Stormers a blend of breakdown expertise and physical presence. De Villiers can focus on contesting possession and disrupting opposition attacks, while Kolisi’s carrying and defensive strength can help the side win the gainline battle and create opportunities for the backs.
With Fourie also providing cover at number eight and the coaching staff prepared to adjust the balance of the loose trio in the coming weeks, Dobson has several options at his disposal.
For now, the pairing of Kolisi and De Villiers presents an opportunity to combine established international quality with emerging talent. The Stormers will hope their complementary skill sets strengthen the pack rather than force the coaching staff to choose between two valuable flankers.
