Sikhumbuzo Notshe breaks with Stormers teammate Scarra Ntubeni, right, in support against the Jaguares. Picture: GALLO IMAGES

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STORMERS coach Robbie Fleck has been around long enough to know that a result of a warm-up match is irrelevant if the performance is riddled with errors.

On Saturday, his team achieved both the result and delivered a strong performance in key areas against the Jaguares, which will give the head coach and the team huge confidence as they head into the Super Rugby season.

There is a huge optimism around the Stormers this season. There is a general feeling that under Fleck, who was a swashbuckling Bok centre in his day, that the Stormers will evolve into the image of their coach as a player.

But on the evidence of their 29-14 win over Argentina’s new entrants to Super Rugby, the Stormers are not going to abandon key tenets of rugby. The scrum was superb, particularly in the first half with Oliver Kebble and Vincent Koch propping while the lineout was strong.

"We were facing a good team, and the way that we managed it in the first half was pleasing," Fleck said.

"There are far more positives than work-ons, so I am pleased. Our scrummaging performance was good, and our mauls started to work nicely towards the end.

"Our lineout operated really well, we made a number of changes at the end and it still operated well. I thought our breakdown was excellent, which is something we really have focused on. Our body height in the clean was exceptional. Towards the end, there was good interplay which is something we’ve worked on.

"As we grew in confidence our game came together. When we did keep ball in hand we were good, and we put them under pressure."

But it was not entirely positive for the coach, who highlighted areas that need work.

"There is still a bit to work on, which is good thing. We need to make better decisions in our kicking game. There were some good attacking kicks that put them under pressure but we pushed a few too many. But they weren’t relieving kicks and they didn’t stem from a defensive mindset, which we have had in the past," he said.

"Defensively they threatened with their interplay and we had a chat about it at halftime. We seemed to sort it out and there are far more positives than negatives."

The Stormers face the Bulls at Newlands in their season opener in less than two weeks. By then they should have flank Schalk Burger, lock Eben Etzebeth, prop Frans Malherbe, fullback Cheslin Kolbe and centre Juan de Jongh back in the selection mix. It is going to cause Fleck some headaches, but rather a choice of whom to leave out than whom to select.

"I want competition for places. I don’t want things to be easy for any player," Fleck said. "We’re nearing full strength and we will narrow the squad to 32 players this week and name our captain."