Stormers look for continuity

Continuity will be high on the Stormers’ to-do list when they host the Reds in their Super Rugby fixture at Newlands this afternoon.

Both teams after coming off wins with the Stormers convincingly beating the Blues 37-20 while the Reds had to fight off jetlag after beating the Jaguares 18-7 in Buenos Aires last weekend.

Stormers coach Robbie Fleck said it was a challenging week in many respects before the Blues game and for them to deliver a performance like that after the winless tour made them very happy.

“We are certainly not there yet, there is still lots for us to do and as a group we acknowledge that,” said Fleck.

“The next challenge for us is to put in another performance like that.”

The Stormers also know that a bonus point win and a loss for the Lions in Argentinia could see the team’s 10-point lead at the top of the South African conference reduced by some margin.

“It is great to see we can respond in this way, certainly in the first half it was a good performance from us,” said Fleck.

“We need to learn to play like that for 80 minutes now and every weekend.”

A big starting debut awaits for fullback Craig Barry in place of the injured Dillyn Leyds, while Fleck said Springboks like centre Damian de Allende, captain Siya Kolisi and lock Pieter-Steph du Toit (above) need to again stand up like they did last week.

“Under the circumstances I felt that our senior playing group and our Boks delivered,” he said.

“Siya, Pieter-Steph, Damian stepped up to the plate and delivered.”

Kolisi believes they need to enter the game with the same mindset as the previous week.

“The coach (Fleck) has been positive through the tough times, which makes it so much easier for us as players,” he said.

“All we had to do was focus on ourselves and make sure we were ready.”

Kick-off: 5.15pm.