Deon Fourie has pushed back against criticism directed at young hooker Vernon Paulo following the Stormers' 13-17 URC defeat to Edinburgh, insisting the line-out failures that cost his side the match were a collective breakdown rather than an individual one.
The Stormers lost 11 line-outs across the contest, including a critical throw in stoppage time when they were chasing a winning score. Their position was complicated early when André-Hugo Venter left the field in the 22nd minute with a concussion, thrusting Paulo into the primary throwing role in difficult, windy conditions.
"I think it's a bit harsh on the public out there and all the media outlets just to point fingers at Vernon," Fourie told reporters. "It's a collective issue — the conditions weren't the best as well. Just go and look at the collective thing of everyone's job in a line-out. It's not just Vernon or the hooker that throws in; it's lifting, it's making the right calls as well. Everything plays a part."
Fourie, who started at hooker against the All Blacks in Cape Town last August, said the group would review the set-piece and continue to back Paulo through it. "I've been there throughout my career, stuff that doesn't go your way in a game and you feel a bit down, but that's absolutely not the case. It's a collective thing."
The defeat leaves the Stormers at one win from two after opening with a victory over Connacht. They host the Sharks at DHL Stadium this Saturday.