Cape Town - The Stormers’ season-opening win over the Bulls showed a lot of progress in a number of areas, but the Jaguares will pose a totally different challenge for Robbie Fleck’s team on Saturday.
And that’s the attacking factor and how to deal with a team that plays by the same kind of philosophy that the Stormers are moving towards.
Against the Bulls last week, the Stormers impressed at Newlands with their set-piece dominance, especially at scrum time, and their breakdown work and defence was also impressive.
But the most important area where the Cape side showed progress was in their attacking mindset.
On attack they were well organised, and their passes were not only better than those of the Bulls, but also better than those we’d seen from the men in blue and white last year.
But Nollis Marais’ Bulls side aren’t exactly renowned for their expansive game, and if the Stormers want to really test themselves against a side that run the ball, the Jaguares are that outfit.
Despite the fact that a different kind of threat awaits them on Saturday, Stormers skipper Siya Kolisi said that he would handle this game the same way in which he dealt with the Bulls.
“I think it will be the same, because coach said we had a group leadership and each player knows what he has to do in the game. My focus is still the same - to focus on my game and talk to the ref. So hopefully it won’t be too difficult,” Kolisi said.
Kolisi also added he fully understands how important scoreboard pressure will be against a team like the Jaguares, because if Raul Perez’s men are allowed to get into the game and onto the scoresheet and gain confidence, it will be a tough day at Newlands.
“We’re going to have to start well and keep the momentum going. But we’ll be able to fight back as well if it doesn’t work out that way.
"Because that will happen, it might come tomorrow or it might come at another time, but it will come.”
Meanwhile, Fleck added that although the Argentinians are a completely different side to the Bulls, their focus remained set on their own game in the build-up to the match, and not on what the fiery competition might bring.
“When they’re on song, they’re good. But it’s going to be the same thing as last week. We’ve focused on ourselves this week and on our processes,” said Fleck.
Against the Kings last week, the Jaguares had an unimpressive, often stumbling, start to the game, but managed to score three good tries to get the win.
But that was against the nperrenial whipping boys the Kings, and this is the Stormers, so there’s no telling how the Jaguares will fare on Saturday - the only certainty is the kind of game they will play.
One thing’s for certain - the South Americans will definitely have been boosted by the return of international flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez - who missed out on the Kings game due to injury.
And Fleck doesn’t need to be briefed on what the pivot can add to the visitors’ game.
“Even though it was a good game for them last week, I felt they missed him at 10. They just look a little bit more solid and efficient when he’s running the show. So we’re going to have to be on point with him there.”
But the Stormers boss was also confident about his own No 10, Jean-Luc du Plessis, who also started against the Bulls last week.
“I think they’re quite similar (Du Plessis and Sanchez), they’re both X-factor players and sure, Sanchez has got international experience and he’s got that experience ahead of JL, but they’re both similar players.”
“They both like to run the ball and they both enjoy attacking kicks. They look for space all the time and they like to take control of the game, so they’re very similar,” Fleck said.
So, it seems like the Newlands faithful are set for a double treat on Saturday - the battle of the flyhalves and, of course, the exciting contest that these two sides promise to dish up. And just for dessert, Seabelo Senatla may come off the bench...
Teams for Newlands:
Stormers:
15 SP Marais, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Siya Kolisi (c), 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements:
16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Robert du Preez, 23 Seabelo Senatla.
Jaguares:
15 Joaquí* Tuculet, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 13 Matías Orlando, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Tomás Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Felipe Arregui, 2 Agustí* Creevy (c), 1 Santiago García Botta.
Replacements:
16 Juliá* Montoya, 17 Lucas Noguera Paz, 18 Cristian Bartoloni, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Benjamí* Macome, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Santiago González Iglesias, 23 Matías Moroni.
Kick-off:
5:15 pm
Referee:
Jaco Peyper