Time for a shake-up

IT’S extremely sad that the Stormers, with arguably the best forward pack in the African conference, now find themselves at the bottom of the log.

The back line continues with a combination of gifted players, some potential Springboks and some who maybe should never have been, as well as union discards – those that get recycled backwards and forwards from union to union and, other than rare flashes, are not up to this level of rugby.

(Sure, in their personal capacity they are great guys, but this is professional rugby.)

Right from the outset, Robbie Fleck’s selection as coach was both surprising and hasty.

There was a group of us who felt he would not be up to the task at this level. It seems that now, almost three years down the line, the rooster has come home to roost (can one see it any other way? = no excuses allowed).

Rugby is a hard physical game and my heart goes out to the players who rightfully put it all on the table week after week, but nothing improves. There is no change in the Stormers’ approach, despite all the coaching rhetoric.

Our little group of ex-rugby players now wonder how the fat cats involved with Stormers rugby are going to react to the Stormers’ continued demise.

Maybe its time for them and the coach to get out of their suits and take a few big hits on the field, where pain and reality are physically felt.

Saddened for the players. Owen Williams Knysna