FLECK’S ‘NO FEAR’ TROOPS

Stormers coach praises Lions but says his own in-form players are up for any fight

LAST week was a good one for the Stormers, a very good one indeed. But Stormers coach Robbie Fleck knows all too well that their fixture against the Lions is no way a step down from their one against the Chiefs last week.

We all know how brilliant the Stormers were against the Kiwis at Newlands. They played at a sky-high tempo, their attacking game was on point and their defence, especially their scramble defence, was also tops.

But today it’s the Lions, and while Fleck emphasised the opposition’s attacking potency, he also added that he was confident in his team’s much-improved conditioning and their ability to put up an 80-minute performance.

“It’s the same thing we’re facing with the Lions. I think they scored the most tries in the competition last year and they were the best attacking side. They also made the most line breaks. So they’re going to ask lots of questions of us defensively and in those last 10 or 20 minutes they’ll come at us. But I’m quite comfortable with where we are in terms of our conditioning and in terms of our intensity.”

A massive goal for Fleck and Co is of course to keep improving, and the Stormers chief praised the Lions for doing just that consistently last year.

“If we want to beat the Lions we have to play at the tempo that we did last week, if not more. The Lions were able to do that week in and week out against Kiwi opposition last year. And that was their strength; they just kept improving,” he said.

“We know what’s coming, we’re going to have to fight hard for this one again without fear. The message to the team was last week can’t be a oneoff, we’re growing. And if we want to show exceptional growth, we’ve got to put in back-to-back performances.

In the build-up to the massive South African derby, Johan Ackermann’s side seemed very keen on calling themselves the underdogs. And while Fleck disputes this, he admits that playing at home, where they enjoyed great support last weekend, and their superb form does give them confidence. However he does admire the Lions coaching staff, who he said has done great things for not only Lions rugby, but also for SA rugby.

Be that as it may, there’s sure to be a few monstrous match-ups in Cape Town today. While Dillyn Leyds has been the social media king thanks to that impressive, try-creating offload to SP Marais against the Chiefs, the utility back, who’s found himself on the wing in recent weeks, is far from the only attacking dangerman the hosts boast.

At fullback there’s Marais, who has been scintillating for the Stormers, while Fleck can also puff out his chest in pride when it comes to his centre pairing of Dan du Plessis and EW Viljoen. And then, of course, there’s halfbacks Robert du Preez and Jano Vermaak who will look to build on their fine play. Up front, the Stormers line-out ammunition is at full strength with Springbok locks Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit back in the starting XV. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Siya Kolisi and Nizaam Carr will run on together for the first time this season. They are a hugely exciting loose trio and their selection is another vibrantly positive statement in terms of transforming the game.

The Lions backline is also looking strong yet again, and the focus will surely be on flyhalf Elton Jantjies, the centre pairing of Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Lionel Mapoe, and the exciting youngster Madosh Tambwe and Courtnall Skosan out wide.

It should be a great South African rugby derby.