Is Fleck Stormers’ ‘Tinkerman’?

One would think that after nine matches, Robbie Fleck would know what his strongest possible Stormers team looks like, and that he would select accordingly.

Cape Town - One would think that after nine matches, Robbie Fleck would know what his strongest possible Stormers team looks like, and that he would select accordingly.

But the coach continued with his Claudio Ranieri “Tinkerman” approach on Thursday by making five changes and three positional switches to the side for Saturday’s clash against the Sunwolves in Singapore (1.55pm SA time kickoff).

Ranieri was mocked with that nickname during his time with Chelsea for continuously changing his team, but he did the opposite in guiding Leicester to the Premier League title in an incredible run this season - by largely sticking with the same starting line-up.

The Stormers have had moments of brilliance as they embrace a new, more attacking style of play, but have lacked consistency in their performances and have lost three out of their nine games. Their finishing has been their biggest shortcoming as they have battled to round off try-scoring opportunities.

They have lost games they should’ve won against the Sharks and in their last outing with the Waratahs. It is admittedly a fairly young side, but could all the chopping and changing be the reason why the Cape side haven’t quite fired on all cylinders as yet?

Fleck doesn’t think so, but said from Singapore on Thursday that he will pick a “first team” very soon. The former Springbok centre spoke about the Stormers being in phase three of their Super Rugby campaign, with just six league games to go.

They have three games, against Sunwolves, Bulls and Cheetahs before the June Test window, with phase four ostensibly the final phase in July against the Rebels, Force and Southern Kings before the playoffs.

“We are getting closer to that, but we have also been picking horses for courses, depending on the opposition we’re playing, especially when it comes to the loose forwards. But we are coming to that part of the competition where you want to get that starting XV settled in. There is a lot of competition in the loose forwards, and likewise at lock, where Rynhardt (Elstadt) and JD (Schickerling) have done well,” Fleck said.

“That’s what I want in the squad - I don’t want everyone to feel completely comfortable. They’ve got to understand that there is healthy competition and everyone has bought into it. It’s the same in the front row.”

The constant rotation in the loose trio has been problematic, as it seems as if there aren’t clear role definitions as Fleck tries to juggle Springboks in Schalk Burger, Siya Kolisi and Nizaam Carr with Sikhumbuzo Notshe and now Elstadt.

But you can’t keep everyone happy all of the time, so Fleck will have to make some big calls on just who should be his best loose trio, hooker and possibly back-three combination.

Scarra Ntubeni has been hampered by injury for most of the season, which has seen Bongi Mbonambi grab his opportunity to become the first-choice hooker. Ntubeni, though, still harbours Springbok ambitions, having toured with Heyneke Meyer’s squad previously.

With his former Stormers mentor Allister Coetzee as the new Bok boss, Ntubeni would want to get back to top form and possibly reunite with his old sidekick Steven Kitshoff in the Bok front row, with Frans Malherbe at tighthead.

“Scarra hasn’t had much game time of late - he’s been injured for some time, and what’s important for the squad is that he gets more time. Bongi has been playing exceptionally well, and when Scarra has played, he has done exceptionally well too,” Fleck said.

“So, he can’t get enough game time if he keeps coming off the bench and getting just 20 minutes. They have been rotated this weekend, and it’s our responsibility to get him up to being an 80-minute player again.

“He has been struggling with some hamstring and calf injuries, and he is certainly over the calf injury. In the last couple of weeks, the hamstring has held him back, but he is over it.”

Getting used to each other’s running lines, and trusting your teammate on defence, can only be achieved through continuity in selection.

There have been some glaring defensive errors upfront and in the backline throughout the season.

Yes, sometimes players do need a breather here and there - such as Pieter-Steph du Toit, who has been outstanding in his first season in the Cape. Fleck said the Bok lock would’ve missed the trip to Singapore if Eben Etzebeth had recovered in time from his calf injury, but it was not to be.

But, while Coetzee’s tendency to overplay the likes of Duane Vermeulen and Kitshoff in the past cost the Stormers at times, the fact that he kept the team mainly the same played an important part in the Cape side reaching the playoffs on several occasions.

So, the time has come for Fleck to pick his best possible team if the Stormers are to win their conference and achieve the necessary continuity before the quarter-finals, when they are likely to face a New Zealand team for the first time this year.

Stormers Team

15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Johnny Kotze, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kobus van Wyk, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.

Bench: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Nic Groom, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Huw Jones.

ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za

@IndyCapeSport

Independent Media