The Stormers are only one game into their 2019 Super Rugby campaign and their apathetic loss showed you reap what you sow.
Head coach Robbie Fleck protected his players in the aftermath, like any good coach, putting it down to an “off day”.
While that sounds reasonable and even understandable, it rings hollow.
Fleck is not solely to blame for the sorry state of affairs, he was given the job as a backstop in 2016 without any real credentials – Eddie Jones was on the books until he was offered the chance to coach England (with endless resources at his disposal, I don’t blame him).
Fleck has had no such luxuries.
Every administrator, management team and board member share the weight of responsibility for the quagmire the franchise finds itself in. The much-vaunted defensive system, which for three seasons in a row was ranked number one overall in the early 2010s, is a distant memory.
Rassie Erasmus played a part in getting the Stormers back on track but ultimately moved onto greener pastures. Allister Coetzee, ever the pragmatist, had players such as Schalk Burger, Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana, but couldn’t get any major silverware.
Allister Coetzee (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
The Western Cape is blessed with some of the finest rugby schools in the country and the ‘catchment area’ for talent is arguably unrivalled anywhere else in South Africa. In the town of Paarl alone, you have Paul Roos, Paarl Gim and Paarl Boys High to select from (91 Springboks have been produced by these three schools).
Western Province at the Under-18 Craven Week are routine victors and the Under-19 and Under-21 teams are serial winners of their respective competitions, yet these youngsters aren’t being brought through into the senior setup with winning mentalities.
Maladministration, constant coaching changes, bickering and infighting at boardroom level has infected the very bones of Newlands. Theo Wakefield seemed to continually survive his poor tenure as president of the Western Province Rugby Board, while any other employee would have been shown the door in the ‘real world’.
Wakefield left at the end of 2018 and new president, Zelt Marais, has the unenviable task of trying to steady a sinking ship.
On the pitch, the Stormers are a reflection of their bosses – like any workplace,the feeling generated on the ground comes from the top. Their costly and poorly conceived choices have left a rugby team and union bereft of any security for the future.
While the Stormers’ 2019 season is just beginning, the pain is already being felt and it will get worse before it gets better.
SACS Old Boy
Guest
“In the town of Paarl alone, you have Paul Roos, Paarl Gim and Paarl Boys High to select from” I played against these 3 schools in the late 60s and early 70s, but went to Stellenbosch to play Paul Roos ( Coetzenberg). Was this a typo or has Paul Roos moved? I have lived elsewhere since 1980. It’s going to be a long hard S 15 season for the Stormers, who are probably the worst travellers of all the sides. I wonder was negative effect this will have on those Stormers in the Bok side come RWC in Japan.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Alistair Coetzee with Bryan Habana , Jaques Fourie and Schalk Burger at his disposal but no silverware ….enough said ! There are distinct shades of similarity with the demise of neigbours Eastern Province. With schools such as Grey High , Brandwag , Selbourne College , Queens College etc feeding the system they fell into a political mud pit when Philip Joseph first took over as CEO . They abandoned the supporters too busy like cats in a barrel fighting to get to the top and guess who was appointed head coach ? ?? yup Alistair Coetzee . Throw the toxic Watson family into the mix and you get my point. Today the Southern Kings are attempting to pick up the pieces but remain an embarrassment in Pro 14 rugby . The perennial easy beats of the competition. The message is clear poor management means almost always poor on field outcomes.
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
Geez, that sounds like it could be more dire than the Blues board! Hope it sorts itself out in the long run. Makes me and others look a little uninformed picking the Stormers to win last weekend! Congrats on picking 6/7 for your fist week Baylion, I shouldn't have underestimated your Lions either! I was left with 4/7, which I think was about the norm for the week haha. Another good write up Brandon, cheers mate.
Baylion
Roar Rookie
Over the years I’ve seen that a team doesn’t perform when there are backroom issues. And the Stormers have backroom issues. – The new president of WPRFU (the amateur arm and owner of the Stormers) owes his allegiance to the amateur clubs in the union and has made that clear – Robbie Fleck has made it clear that this is his last year as coach and that he’s “under no pressure” to perform – Half the senior team are looking for deals to move on after this season – Talented youngsters are leaving to other unions/franchises – Their sponsors and equity partners have dropped them because of mismanagement Jeez, just add up the negatives and this is a franchise on the eve of destruction https://youtu.be/qfZVu0alU0I