Open-minded Cape side ‘not just mauling for the corner’

OVER the last few years the Stormers have become a team renowned for butchering tryscoring opportunities in the opposition’s 22-metre area.

They tend to produce some awesome rugby between the halfway line and the 22, but then suffer a bit of “stage fright” when they get into the “red zone”.

That is the main reason why they haven't scored many tries over the last couple of years.

Most of the stage fright was because they tended to run out of ideas due to their limited game plan. In other words, if they didn’t get over the tryline with a maul or a scrum, then the players would hesitate and think “What now?”.

That’s why the new Stormers regime has done a lot of hard work on the team’s execution. It’s part of the bigger picture that is the new, dynamic style of play that they are embracing this season.

In their pre-season friendly against the SWD Eagles in George it was clear that they wanted to expand their try-scoring options beyond the driving maul and the scrum, as they opted for quick taps to score tries from open play.

Of course, this probably won’t happen when the real deal comes around, as the Stormers’ set-piece is still a big weapon in their arsenal. But at least they will have a few more options on attack.

“Execution is everything. The most pleasing thing about the game against SWD was that we scored six tries. Five of those tries came from outside backs and one was from Nizaam Carr, pictured, from the base of the scrum,” Fleck said yesterday.

“It was just pleasing to see the likes of (Leolin) Zas scoring three tries on the wing. It meant that we were utilising the ball a bit better, and that we were utilising the width of the field a lot better.

“We still squandered a few opportunities, but the pleasing aspect was that they were constructive tries. It wasn’t just a case of us mauling for the corner and getting the try like that.”

Fleck says he has been happy with the progress the team has made since the union changed their philosophy in terms of playing style. The pre-season had included a lot more time playing with the ball to enhance the players’ skills. But it’s also involved a lot more running as the ball-in-play time will also be something they will have to get used to.

“We have had two outings now against UCT and South Western Districts. Our focus against UCT was a defensive focus, and what to do from turnovers and counterattacks. That went really well,” Fleck said.

“This week our focus was more on an allout attacking game when we have the ball in hand. The philosophy of playing an allround game and doing the basics well is coming along.”

But this doesn’t mean that they are neglecting their traditional strengths. The key for Fleck is for the team to execute the basics and their skills perfectly.

“Our view how we want to play? Yes, ball-in-hand is part of it, but a decent kicking game and a decent attacking kicking game, which I thought came through nicely against SWD, and a solid set-piece as well. All those things are coming through.”