Fleck says Reds will be real test for Stormers

Coach happy despite loss to Lions

STORMERS coach Robbie Fleck was quick to talk up the struggling Reds who face the Cape side at Newlands this weekend with his side coming off a loss.

The Stormers suffered their second defeat of the season last Saturday, going down 29-22 to the Lions in a pulsating match at Ellis Park.

But the losing bonus point the Stormers claimed kept them on top of the SA Conference standings on 24 points after seven rounds.

The next two weeks are crucial though. The Stormers have home games against the Reds and Waratahs before a bye and then a short overseas tour.

The Reds have won only once in seven matches this season but in recent years have enjoyed success against the Stormers by winning three of the last five encounters between the teams.

Despite winning only 10 of their last 40 Super Rugby matches, Fleck refused to underestimate the 2011 champions.

“The Reds are deadly from turnover,” Fleck said. “They didn’t get those opportunities against the Bulls [losing 41-22 at Loftus last Saturday], but they are still a dangerous side.”

Fleck feels the intensity of the Lions contest was brilliant preparation for his team as they head into another tough phase of the tournament.

“The Lions gave us a great opportunity to see where we are and the tempo was like a test match,” Fleck said.

“It was much higher than anything we have faced this year and it was pleasing that we competed with them – while playing away. The good thing about our side is that when we identify problems and work on them we have tended to sort them out quickly.”

There was a lot of talk about the performance of referee Stuart Berry last weekend, which resulted in WP president Thelo Wakefield receiving a rebuke from the mother body SANZAAR chief executive Andy Marinos.

Wakefield criticised Berry in the immediate aftermath of the match, telling a local Cape Town newspaper that: “referees are always protected, much better than the rhino.”

Marinos told Rugby365.com: “SANZAAR will in the very near future raise the issue with Wakefield to remind him that, while he is entitled to his opinion, all care must be taken when commenting on the performance of match officials, and indeed on all aspects of the management of the tournament, to ensure there is no damage to the integrity of the game.”

Fleck distanced himself and the team from the issue.

“We engage with referees prior and post match,” Fleck said.

“We’re in constant communication with them because it’s part of our growth, but we have no complaints about the Lions game.”