Who plays fullback for the Stormers on their two-match tour of Australia is a case of what kind of rugby Robbie Fleck wants his team to play.
The Stormers coach has tried to play a more attacking brand of rugby this year. They have been a bit hit-and-miss, as they have mixed the sublime (the victory against the Waratahs) with the ugly (the defeats against the Sunwolves and the Sharks).
Regular No 15 Cheslin Kolbe has been crucial because of his ability to attack from the back, as well as taking the ball at first receiver at pace to try and catch the defensive line on the back foot, and possibly run at a tight forward.
But the hot-stepping Kolbe won’t be Down Under as he is preparing for the Rio Olympics with the South African Sevens team.
So looking through the Stormers options, it seems as if Huw Jones will be a perfect fit if Fleck goes for a like-for-like replacement. Fleck also said before the international break that Jones is Kolbe’s back-up following Dillyn Leyds’ season-ending injury.
Jones made his debut for Scotland at centre this past weekend in their 21-16 win over Japan. Centre is his preferred position, but he also played on the wing for the Stormers last year.
Fleck and Western Province coach John Dobson have in the past described Jones as an ‘old-fashioned’ No 13 because of his ability to swerve and take the outside gap. He is also blessed with great hands and vision. However, Jones hasn’t quite been tested under the high ball.
That may not be such an issue on Saturday against the Rebels, who prefer to keep the ball alive by keeping possession. They have kicked just 238 times this season.
Fleck could also opt for the solid, but less spectacular, Jaco Taute at No 15 at the AAMI Park in Melbourne (11.45am kickoff, SA time).
Taute was tipped as a future star at fullback for the Springboks. He was strong, quick and impressive from broken play.
But after making his Bok debut at centre in 2012, and then joining the Stormers from the Lions the following year, he has been plagued by injuries and has lost some of the speed and explosiveness that made him so dangerous.
When fit, WP have deployed Taute at inside centre. But that has remained an experiment, as he isn’t a natural distributor of the ball.
In a way, the 25-year-old finds himself at the last-chance saloon, and having to prove that he still is the cowboy who the Stormers and WP lured to the Mother City.
While Taute won’t cut defences to shreds, he is still solid in the air and has a good boot. And what he also possesses is a desire and desperation to succeed, as well as prove to himself that he can still play at the top level.
“I’ve been an unlucky man,” Taute has told the Stormers’ digital magazine. “It’s been tough. Injuries certainly aren’t fun.”
“I don’t ask questions like, why did this happen to me? Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Rather get focused on how you are going to come back stronger. I just want to enjoy it and play for the guys around me.”
But there may also be a surprise move from Fleck. Wing Leolin Zas played fullback for the SA A side against the England Saxons a few weeks ago.
No one thought of the former SA Under-20 speedster as a No 15 before that. So, what if Fleck asked SA A boss Johan Ackermann to play Zas there to see how he performs?
At least Fleck will have enough time to consider his options when the jet lag keeps him awake. – Cape Times