Force to put the boot into Stormers

 

Fleck was speaking from the team's base in Perth on Tuesday – ahead of their final Super Rugby tour match against the Western Force this coming Saturday.

 

"They [the Force] have a really strong kicking game and a strong defensive game, and when they are playing at home they are exceptionally tough to beat," said Fleck.

 

The Stormers are coming off an excellent 32-18 bonus point win over the defending champion Waratahs last weekend, but Fleck is aware that it is going to be tough challenging a side that display tactics which don't quite fit the Stormers gameplan. 

 

"It was pretty obvious what the Waratahs' intentions were, to engage with us and take us on, and that helped us defensively – we like teams to engage with us and run at us.

 

"We have found it difficult when teams don't connect head-to-head with us but rather employ a big kicking game such as the Force."

 

This could prove to be a headache for the Stormers as their back three of Cheslin Kolbe, Dillyn Leyds and Kobus van Wyk aren't particularly known for their strong kicking game, but rather an elusive running threat.

 

"Teams that avoid confrontation with our pack or don't engage with our defence, become a challenge for us.

 

"We need to therefore be smart and make good decisions at the back, we know that they have got good kicking structures and strong chase-lines, so our patience has to be present. 

 

"We have to wait for the right opportune time to attack, whether that is from turnovers, a poor kick or when we are in their half and we have a good set-piece opportunity to put them under pressure with ball in hand," he added.

 

Sias Ebersohn controls the Force backline, and Fleck is aware of the threat he poses in terms of their strengths. 

 

"Sias is  a good player, he's got a good left boot and good distribution skills, and he suits their style of play.

 

"It's something we have to be aware of, but we know their game is revolved around a strong kicking and defensive game so we have to be patient in terms of what we do on the weekend," he said.

 

The Stormers will have slightly disrupted training in the week ahead with players suffering knocks from the hard-fought encounter against the Waratahs last weekend. 

 

Utility forward Michael Rhodes has flown back home after suffering a hamstring injury, while Nizaam Carr, Kurt Coleman and Demetri Catrakilis are all nursing set-backs from the game last weekend.

 

Influential leader Schalk Burger will miss the entire week as he departs for Shanghai, China in order to attend the Laureus Sports Awards. He will return to training on Friday.

 

Fleck assures though that everything is running smoothly in the Stormers camp.

 

"We've known for a while that Schalk was going to be missing this week, obviously Michael's [Rhodes] injury does affect us a little bit, but Sikhumbuzo Notshe has been playing well in the Vodacom Cup and he has slotted in smoothly"

 

"Come Thursday when we get together for a team run everyone will be available for that," Fleck added.

 

Fleck has strong connections with the South-African littered Force set-up, with backline coach Kevin Foote and assistant coach David Wessels both previously involved with coaching the UCT Ikey Tigers, as did Fleck.

 

It will prove to be an interesting encounter as the Force have several former South African players in their squad. 

 

Marcel Brache, Francois van Wyk and Chris Heiberg all played for UCT under Foote while Ebersohn and Wilhelm Steenkamp played  for the Cheetahs and Bulls respectively.

 

@andrewslamdunc