The Stormers will go hunting a “different kind of beast” in Argentina this weekend, according to coach Robbie Fleck.
After beating the Jaguares in their first Super Rugby encounter at Newlands earlier this season, Fleck knows it won’t be as easy to slay their hosts when they’ve got the backing of their own fans in their backyard.
Fleck explains: “We’ll go away to the Jaguares knowing they are a different beast in Argentina.
“There’s going to be a pretty vocal crowd, but we’ve got to go there and do what we can to get the win.
“They get a lot more energy over there - the crowd gets behind them; they are a pretty physical side and they’re an emotional side.
“They are very tough to play there.
“We’ve got to look at what worked at Newlands, but knowing they will grow an extra arm and an extra leg playing at home.”
The last time the two sides crossed swords, the Stormers won the match 35-8 - outscoring their opponents by four tries to one in March.
ARGY BARGY: Pitfalls awaiting in Buenos Aires. Photo: Backpagepix.
And after having beaten the Bulls in the north-south derby last weekend, Fleck’s charges will enter the match high on confidence.
The coach also believes they have the belief to win away from home after beating the Rebels in their final tour match of Australasia.
He explains: “It will be a great challenge for our boys - we’ve shown that we can win away from home against good teams in terms of the Rebels.
MISSING OUT: Captain Kolisi. photo: Backpagepix.
“The whole tour [to Australasia] we’ve been threatening, so it’s just another blade of grass, just that it’s a couple of thousand miles away.”
He adds: “It’s a massive game for us.
“Every team that goes over there has struggled - barring the Lions.”
Of the five matches on home soil so far this term, the Jaguares have lost two - to the Lions and the Chiefs - and winning three.