Stormers delayed by Obama
Robbie Fleck says that the Stormers were extremely excited about landing in Buenos Aires, but guess who delayed them after a 17-hour journey? The US president!
|||Robbie Fleck says that the Stormers were extremely excited about landing in Buenos Aires, but guess who delayed them after a 17-hour journey? The US president!
That's right - Barack Obama contributed to the Cape side's trip to Argentina being extended even further upon arrival at the Ezeiza International Airport.
Stormers know heat is on at scrum time https://t.co/ciSveky8KW @JohnGoliath82 #Stormers #Jaguares #SuperRugby
— IndyCapeSport (@IndyCapeSport) March 24, 2016
"It was a long trip - we went to Joburg and then all the way to Sao Paulo, which was another tough trip of about 11 hours. Then we had to wait about an hour in Sao Paulo before we boarded to go to Buenos Aires, and that was probably another two-and-a-half hour flight," Fleck said in a teleconference call from the Argentine capital on Thursday.
"When we arrived there at about half past nine, we had a big delay because two of the guys' bags didn't arrive, and we had to wait for the traffic because Barack Obama was travelling through the streets! So they closed off all these roads. It was a very interesting trip…
"He flies out tonight, so we are not getting him (at the match) unfortunately! The whole town shuts down (when Obama is around)."
But the Stormers managed to get a good night's rest and a "nice piece of Argentinian steak" ahead of Saturday's Super Rugby clash against the Jaguares at the Estadio José Amalfitani (11.40pm SA time kickoff).
#SchalkBurger goes back to the bench, so @Notshe6 at flank & @NizaamCarr08 at No 8 @TheCapeArgus @CapeTimesSA @IOLsport #SuperRugby
— IndyCapeSport (@IndyCapeSport) March 24, 2016
Fleck said the players were told to stay awake during the flights as it was during the day - although "it's not always that easy trying to keep a big fellow like Eben Etzebeth awake!" But it will be vital to get their off-field preparations just right so that they are at in optimum shape for the match, which is why there was no team practice on Thursday.
Instead, the coach allowed the players to take in the sights and sounds of Buenos Aires to "enjoy a good steak somewhere and really embrace the fact that they are in a different country and different culture" before Friday's captain's run.
The Stormers lost Dillyn Leyds to a twisted sustained during Tuesday's practice, although the injury is not too serious, which sees Leolin Zas come in on the wing.
The most interesting selection, though, is in the loose trio, where Nizaam Carr goes back to No 8 and Sikhumbuzo Notshe gets another start at openside flank, with veteran Schalk Burger pushed on to the bench.
With Siya Kolisi at blindside flank, it is the best balanced back row that the Stormers can field, with Burger having had a penchant to operate in the flyhalf channel too often this season.
Fleck hinted at that when he said both Notshe and Carr would play towards the ball, suggesting that the Stormers cannot afford to have one of their loose forwards running in the backline against a tough Jaguares pack, where the likes of hardened Test players such as Pablo Matera, Juan Leguizamon and Leonardo Senatore will look to disrupt the breakdowns.
"The loose trio have been going well of late, in the last few games. But it's a little bit of rotation and also what could come from the bench (for us). I always indicated to Notshe that I was looking to give him another start, and he gets this opportunity," Fleck said.
"Likewise I was very happy with the way Nemo has gone at six. For me, what he's been doing at six in the last two games, he's got to take it to eight for this weekend because we are going to be seriously challenged at the breakdown. We can't be too loose in our approach, and the fact that Notshe, Siya and Nemo have played six in their careers and are all hard-working players (make them ideal for the Jaguares game).
"They are going to have to play towards the ball this weekend, both on attack and defence. Schalk goes to the bench, partly rotational but also, it's good to have a guy with his experience coming off the bench in those last 20 to 30 minutes where the Jaguares really upped their game against the Chiefs.
"They really brought something special in those last 20 minutes, especially in the last five minutes where they scored two tries.
"Schalk will come on when the game will certainly be more open, with his experience and calmness, and he thrives in an open game."
ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za
@IndyCapeSport
Stormers Team
15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Juan de Jongh (co-captain), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe (co-captain), 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Bench: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Huw Jones. - Independent Media