The Stormers have turned to an unlikely source in a bid to improve their skills in the air.
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 31: Edwilll van der Merwe of the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Damian Willemse of the DHL Stormers go for the ball during the United Rugby Championship match between Hollywoodbets Sharks and DHL Stormers at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on January 31, 2026 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images)
Coach John Dobson has brought in former Richmond assistant coach and player Steven Morris, who has a background in Aussie rules football, for a short-term stint to sharpen his side’s ability under the high ball ahead of their Vodacom URC clash against the Lions in Johannesburg on 28 February.
The move comes after the Cape side were outplayed tactically in the air during the second half of their last derby against the Sharks, where superior kicking and aerial pressure proved decisive.
Dobson believes the nature of Aussie rules, where aerial contests are central, makes the crossover both logical and necessary.
What people don’t realise about Aussie rules is that there are about 400 kicks in a game and there are usually between 150 and 180 aerial contests,” Dobson told newsmen.
With contestable kicking now a dominant tactic in 15-man rugby, Dobson admits the Stormers have had to adapt quickly.
“It’s not just about catching the ball cleanly, but also about what happens when it spills loose after an aerial contest,” he explained.
“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.”
What we really like about him is his ability as a ball-carrier, his physical presence, scrummaging and competitive nature. In those respects he reminds one of Joseph Dweba. His lineout throwing and conditioning will need a bit of refinement, but he shows a lot of promise.”
Paulo has built a reputation for accurate throwing and explosiveness in open play, traits that will now be honed within the Stormers’ high-performance environment.
