DHL Stormers will keep building
The DHL Stormers are determined to build on their winning performance against the Vodacom Bulls and take their game to new heights in the coming weeks.
The 29-17 victory in the North-South derby on Saturday was their fifth straight win at DHL Newlands this season and the DHL Stormers will be out to maintain that unbeaten home record when they host the Chiefs this coming Saturday.
DHL Stormers Head Coach Robbie Fleck was happy with the character his team showed to step up against their old rivals and deliver an 80 minute performance in front of the DHL Newlands Faithful.
It was a fitting way to celebrate captain Siya Kolisi’s 100th game and hooker Scarra Ntubeni’s 50th, but Fleck was adamant that they can and will improve as the Vodacom Super Rugby season reaches the knock-out phase.
“It certainly wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was better and it was an 80 minute performance. Against this Vodacom Bulls side you have to play for 80 minutes and we did.
“It was a good win for us, especially from a confidence point of view, it was great for the fans, great for Siya and Scarra and the whole group,” he said.
Looking ahead to the next challenge, Fleck has challenged his team to build on the morale-boosting performance against the Vodacom Bulls.
“We will build on this, we are a better side than how we are playing at the moment, but today was a big step in the right direction.
“We have just got to keep winning and keep getting better. If we keep striving for that perfect game or that 80 minute performance we can put teams under pressure.
“We have had to fight incredibly hard over the last couple of weeks, it hasn’t been ideal but the team has shown a bit of character now and we are starting to grow as a group and our game is starting to come together.
“This year we have blown hot and cold in games and we needed this win. We now look forward to the Chiefs game next week,” he said.
Fleck is expecting a massive test from the Chiefs at DHL Newlands on Saturday.
“We are going to face real quality opposition next week with a similar mindset. They rested some players against the Jaguares and they lost so they will be hurting and fired up.
“It is a massive game for us and we are looking forward to it.
“We are heading in the right direction, if we can keep working on taking the soft moments out of our game it bodes well for us.
“It is back to square one on Monday and we have got quality opposition coming down and we need to win again. We can’t afford to slip up, so there is healthy pressure,” he said.
Kolisi said that it had been a special occasion for him and his family, made all the sweeter by the performance of the team.
“Having my family and my teammates here, getting messages before the game from guys like Schalk [Burger], Jean de Villiers, Andries Bekker and Bryan Habana who have been in the same situation.
“It was unfortunate that Eben couldn’t play, but having Frans, Scarra, Nizaam and Kitsie who I started with was very special for me.
“Obviously my family, my wife has made it special. For me it has been all about the team, but my wife has seen it as a big thing. She has brought my whole family and put 40 people from the Eastern Cape in a box,” he said.
