No more 'squeakers' for Stormers
The Stormers are determined to find their killer instinct and start putting teams away.
Speaking to this website ahead of their final league fixture, against the Rebels at Newlands on Saturday, assistant coach Robbie Fleck said they have been frustrated by their inability to finish off teams.
Not only have the Stormers failed to score any four-try bonus points, but their biggest winning margin this year has been just 15 points. In the majority of their victories the opposition managed to collect a losing bonus point for finishing within seven points of the Cape Town-based outfit.
While the Stormers have already book their place in the play-offs, Fleck feel it is time they play to their true potential and produce a solid 80-minute effort.
"It is all about us building momentum for the play-offs," Fleck told this website, when asked what was important for them this week in a game they are expected to win at a canter.
"The frustrating part this season is that we haven't quite played for 80 minutes.
"We played for 20 minutes and then 20 minutes off. Once again there was a clear example against the Cheetahs [a 13-6 win last week], where we played really well in difficult conditions and then we let ourselves down by letting the Cheetahs back in the game again.
"For us it is about building momentum and getting a lot of confidence.
"Going into the play-offs we are going to play 80 solid minutes … and not just in terms of defence, but our attacking game as well and that has been patchy at times this season. It is important that we go into the play-offs with confidence in those aspects of our game."
Fleck admitted that their team talks this week focussed on the need to play 80 minutes of rugby.
"We don't want to be struggling through another game and just squeaking it out at the end … we want to go out there with a massively positive approach and putting the opposition to the sword."
The Stormers' assistant coach said there would be a small measure of experimentation against the lowly Rebels, but they will not underestimate the opposition and will "go for the win" first and foremost.
"You have to weigh up your options, " Fleck told this website, adding: "We are trialing in a sense in terms of our selection, thinking ahead to the play-offs because of [injured] players that are missing and we are trying to find the best combination that will suit us in the play-offs.
"In terms of how we want to play, it is a case of playing winning rugby and going out there to secure a home semifinal … it is important that we do get that.
"In saying that, it is an opportunity for us to maybe tweak it a little bit and all things going well, we might open it up a bit.
"However, we have to go for that win first."
Although the Rebels can score tries, their leaky defence has seen them lose 11 of their 15 starts this season.
Yet Fleck feels they are a much better side than what they get credit for.
"They are a much-improved side and have surprised a lot of people this year.
"To have it on their record as beating a championship side like the Crusaders [28-19 in Melbourne] and running the Bulls close [35-41] at home, also pushing some of the bigger teams in the competition to the end … they deserve credit for that.
"They have played well and it has been about their development and growth in this competition. They are a dangerous side and will want to end off on a high note by toppling another big team in the competition. They are capable of scoring tries, as was evident against the Lions [last week] and we need to be wary of that."
By Jan de Koning
