Valuable lessons for DHL Stormers
The DHL Stormers will take some valuable lessons from their hard-fought victory against the Jaguares at DHL Newlands, which will make them a better side going forward.
Having been put under pressure by a Jaguares team littered with Test players, the DHL Stormers showed great character to make it back-to-back wins to start the 2017 Vodacom Super Rugby season.
Despite coming up against a physical and abrasive Jaguares team who were determined to cause an upset at DHL Newlands, Head Coach Robbie Fleck’s team dug deep to secure a 32-25 victory which took them to the top of the Africa Conference One after the second round of action.
Fleck said that he was happy to see his side come though a tough examination from a well-drilled Jaguares team which managed to put them under serious pressure at times.
“It was a very good test for us of what is coming our way. Credit to the Jaguares, they put us under a lot of pressure, their linespeed was very effective in taking out our attack.
“In the second half I felt their physicality and tempo increased. The way they took us on through the middle was pretty effective.
“There was some good rugby from our side and they had us under the pump so we had to hang in there.
“They were good, they put us under pressure defensively and on attack in the second half they took it up through the guts of the field asking ots of questions of us and we had to adapt,” he said.
The DHL Stormers coach said that his side can be proud of the way they stood up to seal the win in the end and added that he is looking forward to reviewing the game as they will be better off for the experience.
“I am immensely proud of the win, it is a very good win. Yes, there are lots of work-ons, they tested us more than the Bulls did last week so we can take a lot more learnings from this game.
“We still had to score the tries and defend our line and we did. The two yellow cards were justified because we put them under pressure and we came out with a win.
“There is lots that we can learn from this game which is a good thing, but credit to them, physically I thought they were very good which was a challenge for us and we needed to step up.
“We weren’t happy with our physicality in this game which is something that we have to work on going forward
“It was a very good test for us to see where we are, in the past maybe we would have let this game slip, but we didn’t and we fought hard towards the end.
“I am looking forward to Monday, it is going to be a great review for us and we can learn a helluva lot from this game,” he said.
The only injury concern at this stage for the DHL Stormers is speedster Cheslin Kolbe who left the field with an ankle injury.
“Cheslin has got a bit of an ankle injury, it doesn’t look too serious but he might be out for a week or so,” said Fleck.
After winning their first two games at DHL Newlands, the DHL Stormers have their first away game against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday before a bye week.
