Fleck not just a laid-back surfer

Rugby writer John Goliath caught up with Stormers coach Robbie Fleck to find out what makes him tick

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Robbie Fleck has made a good start to his tenure as Stormers head coach.

Three wins in their first four matches of 2016, which included a 20-point victory over Super Rugby title favourites, the Brumbies, last weekend have given the Cape franchise a great platform to build on for the rest of the season.

Who was your favourite player growing up?

There are quite a few. I grew up supporting Western Province, so guys like Carel du Plessis and Michael du Plessis. During that stage, WP were almost unbeatable, and they had that rivalry with the Bulls. It was because of their flair and the way they played the game, it was very different to any other team in South Africa. Danie Gerber didn’t play for WP then, but I idolised him as a centre.

Did you go to Newlands as a kid?

Absolutely, every weekend. Funny enough, my dad was very good mates with Anton van Zyl’s dad, and they lived right across from Newlands cricket. So, as a kid, I would play rugby in the morning and then I would go straight across to Mike van Zyl’s place. We would have a hamburger, and then we would go to the game. I used to sit in the old scholar stands watching Western Province.

What do you love most about Newlands?

There is so much to talk about when it comes to Newlands. It’s where I’m from, I grew up watching my heroes there. I landed up playing there and I loved every minute of it as a player. It’s a grand old lady, and there’s so much tradition and history. Many great players have played there, foreign and local. The fans, you don’t get such passion from other fans around the world. Loyal fans. It’s a beautiful ground, and there is just something special about it and playing here.

Favourite memory in a Stormers jersey?

There are a lot. I think the special year was probably 1999. We didn’t have a good year in 1998, but we were a group of young players coming through, a strong Under-21 team that were starting to push through to the Stormers.

We just played with a fearless approach and we went all the way to the semis. We lost it but, overall, it was an amazing experience being part of that team, playing rugby with your friends. There were seven games in a row that we played at Newlands, and it was packed, 40 000 people. And we beat quality sides like the Crusaders.

Did the “strike” before the 1999 semi-final influence the result against the Highlanders?

I would say yes and no. I would firstly say no, because in those days half of the playing group didn’t really know what was going on. There were negotiations happening before, but that was with the player leadership and the union.

It happens every year that you negotiate a bonus, but the problem was that it was done before the match – the week of the semi-final – and that’s probably why it did have an impact.

But we also came up against a good Highlanders side on the night, and I would think that we lost the game because they were better than us.

Why do you think the Stormers haven’t been able to win a Super Rugby title?

I don’t quite know. The ambition is there and we have had some great teams also, but we have always just fallen away in the playoffs. That was a very good team back in 1999 and they also failed. We had a good team in 2010 when we made the final. We had a good side in 2003 or 2004 and they made the semis. I think we do well as a franchise nearly every year, but we just haven’t been able to get over that final hurdle.

Which Super Rugby format is your favourite?

We don’t know yet if this current format is going to work. I guess I liked it in the days when it was Super 10 or Super 12, when you played every team in the competition once, and you had to test your mettle against all the Australian sides and all the Kiwi sides. You only played one game against the South African teams ... it takes a huge amount of energy playing the South African sides twice.

I know that is what some of the fans want to see, and they want to see the Crusaders coming to Newlands. I do like the current format of the European Cup, with various pools and knockout stages, almost like the Champions League in soccer. So you have to work hard in the Currie Cup to qualify for that. What I like about the new format is that we are travelling to new countries, and making the game more global.

Tell us one thing about Robbie Fleck that may surprise people?

A lot of people think that I’m quite a laid-back guy and quite casual in my approach. I guess I came across like that as a player. I was a bit of a maverick and a bit loose as a player, but I’m a quiet guy and I’m quite diligent in my work, I work hard.

A lot of people think that discipline is not a big thing of mine, but it actually is. It’s quite funny, because all the things I was weak on as a player, I’m quite strong on as a coach. Fitness and conditioning, I was horrible at it as a player, but I’m quite strong about it as a coach.

Best surf spot in the country?

It must be Kommetjie, because that is where I live. I have surfed all over the show, but there are certain spots that I love. I love Kommetjie, that is my home and there are three or four breaks that I go to. I’m not a good surfer, but I love it. I got to back my home turf.

Is surfing your favourite hobby?

I love spending time with my kids, and I love spending time in the water. I also love spending time with my mates. Certainly, spending time surfing could be classified as my hobby.

Rihanna or Beyonce? And why?

I don’t listen a lot to their music! (laughs) But probably Beyonce, because she is the older one of the two and I can relate better to her!

Can Ernie Els and Tiger Woods still win a major?

Absolutely! You have got to believe they can because they are quality golfers. They are unbelievable sportsmen, they have done it before and there is no reason why they can’t do it again. In the sport of golf, age is not a factor until you are over 50 or 60. Those guys have got the mental capacity and the talent to win another major.

Toughest thing to deal with as a head coach?

It’s a lot more work, a lot more responsibilities, and a lot more pressure. But that is something that you expect and what you sign up for. If you are afraid of that, it’s going to get to you.

You are a lot more in the spotlight as well and if you are a guy who shies away from that, those sorts of pressures can get to you. When you signed up for a job like this, especially coaching a famous team like the Stormers, you have got to be prepared to take on more work ... the fans, the media ... and you have got to embrace that. But rather than thinking what is the tough part of it, the best part of it is that you are a head coach and you have got your own team.

You can cultivate your own culture and plans. You are trying to grow something and be part of something special. I know there are still tough times ahead, but I have enjoyed every minute so far. If we can keep focusing on the good stuff, I think we can become a successful team over time.

How do you deal with criticism?

It’s not easy, but fortunately I have been through it as player. I was a part of some good teams and I have played some good rugby. But I was also a part of some average teams and played some bad rugby.

Thankfully, there wasn’t any social media then and we survived! But going through that as a player helped to prepare me as a coach, because you know that is going to happen – there are going to be good days and bad days. There are going to be some people who love what you do, and some people who don’t like what you do.

You can’t please everyone, and you just got to give it 100% and hope that success follows. It’s tough, but you grow a bit of a thick skin.

Favourite moment in a Springbok jersey?

There are probably three. My first Springbok cap against Italy was an unbelievable moment, I never knew I would be a Springbok and it came at a young age. Playing in the World Cup in 1999 and being a part of two special games of rugby is another one.

We beat England in France with Jannie de Beer, and obviously losing to Australia in the semi-final, which was an unbelievable game of rugby.

Later, when I was at a crossroads in my career and being recalled against the All Blacks at Ellis Park and probably playing my best-ever game for the Springboks, especially against the All Blacks, our biggest rivals. It gave me a huge sense of accomplishment.

Favourite Bok coach?

Nick Mallett was there when I first started out and I enjoyed his approach to the game, he had a hard edge to him, a disciplined approach. But he was also trying to get South African rugby to think outside of the box, a new-age type of thinking. He wanted to make us a smarter side who played tactically better. A better brand of rugby.

It took a lot of balls to make that decision and, ultimately, he probably got fired for it because he wasn’t getting results. But he was trying to take Springbok rugby to a different place where people are trying to take the team now. Harry Viljoen also tried it, and I enjoyed Harry at WP and the Stormers.

Does Allister Coetzee have what it takes to be a successful Springbok coach?

I have been with Allister for a long time and I learned a huge amount from him. I think one thing that people need to understand is that the Stormers job is a tough gig and there is a lot of expectation. He had to run a team for a long time, and he was successful.

For me, the biggest thing I learned from him is humility and honesty. He was good like that. He is a proper people’s person and he had a good ability to understand people, keep them together, and focused on the task.

He can become a successful Springbok coach. If he gets the right people who he trusts, and he can create the right environment, then there is no reason why he can’t be successful. He understands South Africa and what it takes to win a World Cup.

Can South African players play smart rugby?

I think they can. We have just never really given them a chance, in sense that we always built our game plans on physicality and emotion, and traditional South African strengths like size, a good set-piece and a dominant defence. We have always run on that emotional and physical side.

But we certainly have the talent, and I certainly believe that our players are smart enough to execute game plans. With a bit of collective leadership from the players and the coaches, and simplifying the plan and working on our basics and the key fundamentals, because that is something we have neglected.

It’s clear for me that South Africans are smart people, whether it is in the business environment or the sporting field. We have always taken on challenges that come our way with good ideas.

We probably just never tapped into that enough. The Lions have shown that we can play a game like any New Zealand side. We all can do that, we are certainly not far behind.

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