Fleck: Game has a place for a small guy like Cheslin
CHESLIN KOLBE assured everybody yesterday that there is no need to worry about his health after suffering a few tasty hits against the Sharks on Saturday night.
It looked like Kolbe was targeted by the Sharks, who may or may not have sent Frans Steyn on to the field to nullify the Stormers fullback’s attacking threat illegally during their Super Rugby match.
But what the late hits did do is stir up the debate about the role of “small” players on the rugby field.
Former Springbok coach and rugby pundit Nick Mallett started the debate by saying Kolbe might be better suited as a scrumhalf because of his ability to step players around the fringes of the ruck. He felt that Kolbe “will never be picked at fullback for the Springboks” because of South Africa’s obsession with size.
However, Stormers backline coach Robbie Fleck yesterday disagreed and says fullback is the “perfect position” for a man of Kolbe’s ability.
“He is a guy who must operate in space. I think the chat about him playing nine is because he had two line breaks close to the fringes,” Fleck said yesterday. “For me he is a quality player, and I believe 15 is his best position, and where we are going to concentrate on him.”
The former Springbok centre believes there is a place for small, dynamic players like Kolbe in international rugby.
The man who occupied the No 15 jersey last year Gio Aplon is a similar sort of player, but was even better under the high ball and had a lovely big left boot. Yet he had limited chances in the green and gold because of the perceived lack of trust in smaller players.
Fullback Willie le Roux has been the exception to that rule over the last few years for the Boks, as he has probably nailed down the No 15 jersey for the World Cup in September. And Fleck believes Kolbe can do a similar job at international level.
“Lets take Willie le Roux into consideration. Is he the biggest fullback? By no means, but he has skill, ability and vision. And that’s why that guy is a quality international fullback,” Fleck said.
“He is a couple kilos heavier and a couple inches taller than Cheslin. There is no doubt the game, at an international level, has got a place for a small guy like Cheslin. Willie has proven that, and Cheslin will prove that if given the opportunity.
“Ben Smith is not the biggest guy in world rugby, and neither was Christian Cullen. But these guys are quality attacking players. No doubt there is place for a Gio Aplon and a Cheslin Kolbe.
“Yes Cheslin took a couple of late hits at the weekend, but that is because he is a special player. He is going to be targeted, because more sides are going to put numbers around him. But we as a team have got to create opportunities for Cheslin. He can’t be working in an environment where there’s just numbers around him.”
The man himself is not worried about the chatter surrounding his best position, and Kolbe says he will only be concentrating on delivering the goods against the Chiefs on Saturday.
“There will always be a few words, but at this stage I just want to focus on what I’m doing right now, and where I’m playing. At this stage I don’t want to think about extra stuff. So I think I will just focus on fullback at the moment.”
The Stormers confirmed yesterday that flank Michael Rhodes willbe joining Saracens after the Super Rugby season.