Leyds at flyhalf for Stormers

Its amazing how injuries etc can effect pone position so profoundly!Ex Supersport

he DHL Stormers could go into their important Vodacom Super Rugby clash with the Blues at Newlands on Friday night with Dillyn Leyds wearing the No 10 jersey.

Leyds has played most of his rugby for the Stormers as a wing and a few games at fullback, but Stormers coach Robbie Fleck has for a long time said that he is a potential flyhalf option.

Up to now he hasn’t been needed in a starting role in that position as the Stormers had a solid resource base of pivots, but that has been decimated over the past few weeks by a combination of injury and national call-ups.

With Robert du Preez, Jean-Luc du Plessis and Kurt Coleman all out of rugby as they nurse injuries, this would normally have been the time when Damian Willemse, last year’s South African Schools flyhalf, would have been given an opportunity and asked to step up to the plate.

Unfortunately for the Stormers, the timing has been poor, however, as Willemse is away preparing for the Junior World Championship with the Baby Boks.

The Stormers do have two other options apart from Leyds. Brandon Thomson is a former national age-group flyhalf and he has been called into the Stormers squad, while Joe Pietersen , who has played for the Cheetahs and the Sharks since leaving the Western Cape a few years ago, is back home and has been training with the Stormers for much of the season.

However, at a press conference in Cape Town, Fleck hinted strongly that Leyds could continue where he left off when he was forced to fill in at flyhalf after Du Preez left the field in the recent match against the Hurricanes in Wellington.

“Dillyn has done the job on tour and there’s a good chance we will play him there,” said Fleck.

“There are certain skills that Dillyn brings to the table that are quite unique for a No 10.”

However, Fleck also has confidence in the other options available to him. It will only be when the team is announced on Wednesday that there will be any certainty over whether he is considering Leyds as his starting flyhalf or just continuing with him as the back-up option that he became when Coleman was forced out of the Hurricanes game due to an ankle injury.

Dillyn could find a home at fly-half, he's too lightweight to be a wing at international level, but he's very good technically, good hands, good pace and not a bad pass, he's played fly half before, so maybe it could be a blessing in disguise...
How do you think Stormers need to change their fortunes beeno?

 They could try winning to change their fortunes, there's a thought...

At the last Stompies training session, coach Robbie Fleck told the players to take their positions . . . so they all ran and huddled under the poles to get ready to charge down the conversion attempt.

Actually if you are trying to charge down a kick you don't huddle under the poles....you take your position opposite where the try was scored. Have you congratulated the Kings yet.......Urinal LMAOFY!

 To be fair Mozart, the Mild Zephyrs' defence resembles a colander so most of the tries scored against them are under the posts...

Oh come now Moolah, some of the 8 tries a game against the Stormers have to have been scored away from the posts.....you know how your chaps love to do those swan dives when they get to the line.

Leyds will be an interesting prospect at 10. His kicking game will be tested- and his ability to organise a backline. He certainly has pace and skill, it is about seeing what his playmaking ability entails. He may yet get a bok call-up. . He has been one of the surprise packages from SA, along with some of the Kings players. 
I am not convinced about Robert Dupreez, although he does have DonKriel at 12 at the moment.
He looks like a hard worker- with less natural ability. 
Is Goosen eligible to play for the Boks? If he has a french contract- and less than 30 caps- is he toast? Or does the rule only come into effect next year

Goosen is a waste of time...no guts.