Stormers coach Robbie Fleck says they will continue to embrace the philosophy of a ‘coaching collective’ as preparation intensifies for Vodacom Super Rugby.

The Stormers have embarked on a pre-season training camp in Wilderness and George this week, and Fleck said it had been extremely productive in developing the team culture.

‘The purpose of the camp has been to build on what we started in November, we have put a major focus on our conditioning and the way we want to play, but it also gives us an opportunity to build on our culture and a bit of team-building as well.

‘It is a new coaching group and we have had to knuckle down fairly quickly and get stuck into it,’ he added. ‘We really want to embark on a coaching collective where we spread the workload. It allows the senior coaches to focus on certain areas that we need to get done immediately.’

With Fleck assisted by the likes of Paul Treu, John Dobson, Dawie Snyman and Russell Winter, he said there had been plenty of positive input.

‘There is a large group of 38 players here, and there are about eight coaches who are continuously working with them on a one-on-one, unit and team basis.

‘We are into the thick of things and it has been great, the support of the rest of the coaches and the players has been fantastic and the guys are keen, so I am really enjoying it. The coaching collective has made a huge difference and has made my job easier, and so has the buy-in from the players.’

Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images