Fleck believes Stormers’ loose trio has right sort of feel

STORMERS coach Robbie Fleck says his team did well in terms of preparation for their clash against the Highlanders despite a “tough week” after their heavy defeat to the Crusaders.

Preparing for a big game after taking a 57-24 beating the week before would be hard for any team, and Fleck said that long travelling and the shorter week (playing today as opposed to tomorrow) also added to it.

“It’s a tough week because it’s a short turnaround after that Crusaders game and it’s a short week,” Fleck said.

Fleck has made a lot of changes for their clash with the Highlanders today (9.35am kickoff), but Pieter-Steph du Toit moving back to lock wasn’t one of them. And Fleck believes that picking Du Toit at No 7 gives his loose trio “the right sort of feel”.

The Stormers coach made nine changes in total to the team that suffered a 57-24 beating by the Crusaders last week, including two positional changes. These positional switches will see Dillyn Leyds moving back to the left wing with SP Marais, pictured, returning from injury at fullback, while Nizaam Carr moves from openside flank to No 8.

Sikhumbuzo Notshe, who started at No 8 in Christchurch, moves to the bench for the round 10 fixture, while skipper Siya Kolisi returns to the matchday squad after being rested last weekend.

“At lock Chris van Zyl is injured, so Jan de Klerk comes in for him. Pieter-Steph had a good game at No 7 last week. We feel the loose trio we have selected for this game has the right balance and the right sort of feel,” said Fleck. “We felt in the Lions game that preceded the tour that we needed someone to do the ball carrying role that Pieter-Steph does so well and that was why we chose him there last week.”

Although Du Toit will feature at flank again, he will still call the shots at the lineouts, and Fleck added that it would have been a bit of a push to bring JD Schickerling, who has joined the squad in New Zealand, into the mix so soon after recovering from injury.

“JD could have played at a push but he was only due to fly out to join us next week so we decided not to rush him. Pieter-Steph can move to lock later in the game and we have two loose-forwards on the bench in an attempt to blunt the Highlanders’ high tempo game. We felt we’d need the extra pace and mobility later in the game,” he said.

In the two other changes to the pack, Oli Kebble and Frans Malherbe come into the starting line-up ahead of Wilco Louw and JC Janse van Rensburg.

“We felt that Frans needed some game time as he hasn’t had that much recently and he made a great impact when he came on last week and it is the same with Oli. JC and Wilco have started a lot of games this season,” said Fleck.

In the backline, Dewaldt Duvenage makes way at No 9 for Jano Vermaak, while Dan Kriel will start at inside centre in the place of Dan du Plessis, who dislocated his shoulder against the Crusaders.

Former Highlanders centre Shaun Treeby is set to make his Stormers debut off the bench, and with flyhalf Kurt Coleman having picked up an injury during training this week, Bjorn Basson will provide cover on the bench.