VIDEO: 'Things have changed' - Deon Fourie addresses leadership concerns

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers stalwart Deon Fourie admitted that his team is in a bit of a transition period when it comes to leadership, but it is all part of the bigger picture.

The Capetonians are busy preparing for a massive Champions Cup Round Two clash against Stade Rochelais in Cape Town on Saturday and Fourie will be one of the big names in action.

The 37-year-old was part of a large contingent of players that did not travel to England for the Round One encounter against Leicester Tigers last weekend.

Fourie's presence will be vital for the Stormers against the defending champions, especially when it comes to leadership on the field.

After losing Steven Kitshoff to Ulster, there has been a question mark around that area since the season started.

They also lost the experience of Marvin Orie [Perpignan] in the pack and before the season started, new squad captain Salmaan Moerat was ruled out with a long-term injury.

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"That's how life works. You get people in and some leave," said Fourie.

"Neethling [Fouche] has stepped up and he is talking and inspiring the okes. Adre [Smith] is taking up some responsibility at defensive line-out time.

"He is not the Adre I knew before I left for the Boks, so those guys have stepped up and they have grown as leaders as well.

"That is how you form leaders, by putting them in situations and seeing how they are doing and they rose to the occasion.

"Yes, you will never replace a Kitsie or a Marvin but with the guys coming through, that's part of growing and being a better leader and player.

"Things have changed, but so has life."

Building character

The Stormers have not had the best run of form recently with four defeats from seven games in the United Rugby Championship (URC) before Sunday's defeat in the Champions Cup.

However, Fourie is still proud of what his teammates have produced so far.

"We always stayed in the fight. We are always so close to winning those games and I think that is where you build character and that is how you build a team to be stronger.

"Luckily it's a long season.

"If you look at Munster last season, they struggled in the beginning and then they were firing in the second half of the season and they won the URC.

"On that note, I think the guys are building quite nicely.

"We've seen against Leicester Tigers that we are getting there.

"We are getting all our structures in place and guys are trusting the system we want to implement here at the Stormers."

It was a Stormers 'B' team that pushed Leicester all the way in a 26-35 defeat at Welford Road and Fourie believes there is a lot they can take out of that performance.

"They followed the plan and the plan worked. They almost walked away with four points.

"We learnt from that and everyone will learn from some of the decisions we made and we are moving forward."

@rugby365com