CAPE TOWN - Sometimes suffering a defeat is one of the best things that can happen to a team. Just ask Stormers coach Robbie Fleck, I’m sure he’d agree.
You see, after that whipping Fleck and his troops were so cruelly handed by the Chiefs at Newlands during last year’s Super Rugby quarter-finals, the Stormers mentor went on a mission to change things.
He was visibly and understandably embarrassed after that thrashing, but it’s paved a new path for the Stormers. One focused on changing their approach and fixing whatever they did wrong, as well as working on building whatever they lacked.
The Stormers roped in skills coach Paul Feeney towards the end of last year in a bid to improve their skills. They’ve focused a lot on their strength and conditioning. And they’ve been "looking after" themselves "on and off the field" - something that new Stormers captain Siya Kolisi admitted they never really did before.
And recently, Fleck said that "if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best" (referring to the Kiwi sides they’re going to face this year).
That is a very, very true statement indeed and one that shows his enthusiasm, but if there’s one area that the Stormers need to seriously combat the New Zealanders in before they can spend too much time visualising victory over the Kiwis, it’s the breakdowns. And Fleck knows that.
The New Zealand teams’ breakdown intensity is on another level. They’ve used the breakdown to great efficacy, with quick work on the ground and the ability to create brilliant attacking opportunities from there.
They simply don’t over-commit numbers at the breakdown, yet they still manage to generate quick, good ball with more than enough of their men on their feet which, of course, equals a better attacking platform. And it’s worked for them.
We’ve seen it many times. It’s in and out. They take everything around the breakdown away and they do so quickly.
But Fleck doesn’t seem to be too rattled by the prospect of going up against the men from New Zealand in that regard, in fact, he was confident that, just like in other areas, the Stormers have made some good strides in their breakdown efforts.
“I feel like our breakdown has gone well this pre-season, on defence and attack,” Fleck said earlier this week.
“John Dobson was brought in as a specialist to help us at the breakdown these past few months. The guys improved a hell of a lot in that area during the Currie Cup, and it was a point of focus in the pre-season.
“You have to be up to the task at the breakdown if you’re going to perform against the Kiwi teams.”
So Fleck knows what they’re in for and it seems he’s planned accordingly.
Because, quite frankly, the Stormers can’t afford another Chiefs-like horror. Not if they want this year to be their year.
And one of the biggest, yet simplest, things that the Stormers need to do differently is their work at the breakdowns.
Just think back to the game against the Chiefs last year. The Stormers failed to apply sufficient pressure at the breakdowns, which allowed the Chiefs’ potent backline to run rings around the hosts. They gave the Chiefs’ centres and outside backs many chances to pass and run. And they can’t do it this time around.
But like Fleck said, things have been going well at the breakdowns both on attack and defence, let’s just hope it comes through this season, especially against those Kiwis.