The flyhalf Stormers need
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers have a good flyhalf, but they just don’t use him.
The backline is a problem area for the Stormers and that was evident at the Westpac Stadium last weekend, during their 28-34 defeat to the Hurricanes.
There was a lack of creativity and direction. Their kicking game and decision making at the back was not up to standard and those areas largely fall on the flyhalf’s shoulders.
Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck is a big fan of Jean-Luc du Plessis and the latter will once again be wearing the No.10 jersey against the Blues in Auckland on Saturday.
Du Plessis did not have a good game in Wellington, and he seemed out of his depth at this level.
With a strong pack, a flyhalf should be able to dictate play and put the opposition under pressure with a strong kicking game and smart decision-making in the right areas of the field, which was largely non-existent last weekend.
Damian Willemse is the other option at flyhalf, but his best position is at fullback, where he has time and space to torment opposition defences. He struggles to cope when he is put under pressure at flyhalf.
The 10-man game
Stormers fans can expect a lot more mauling from their team when they face the Blues at Eden Park.
That was the message from Fleck.
“We won’t approach the game differently to the way we played last weekend,” Fleck told reporters on Thursday, ahead of their Round Seven encounter.
The Stormers’ pack, with a powerful scrum and driving maul, almost single-handedly beat the Hurricanes last weekend and that recipe will once again be implemented against the Blues.
If the Stormers are going to use their pack as their main weapon this season and play a 10-man game, then Joshua Stander certainly needs to be given the reins at flyhalf.
Stander’s game-management was excellent for Western Province in last year’s Currie Cup and he could do the same for the Stormers with quality ball coming his way.
The 25-year-old is a cool head under pressure and he has a strong and accurate kicking game, which is a dream for a pack of forwards looking to play in the right areas of the field.
He is capable of making good decisions on attack and one only needs to look at some of Province’s games in the Currie Cup for examples.
Yes, Super Rugby is a different competition, but Stander has shown a lot of promise at No.10.
Stander will be on the bench at Eden Park on Saturday and he could get an opportunity to showcase his talent in the last quarter of the match.
However, not starting him this weekend is surely a missed opportunity for the Stormers.
By Warren Fortune
@FortuneWarren
@rugby365com
