Ruben van Heerden has thrived on life in Cape Town and is set for his 50th appearance for the DHL Stormers but it is fellow lock JD Schickerling’s return that is rightly the headline news ahead of Saturday’s 15th round Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash with Connacht.
Schickerling has been out for two months with a shoulder injury and has been missed in that time. Although the Stormers’ lineout efficiency is currently ranked second in the URC league, it hasn’t been quite as on point in his absence than it was when Schickerling was playing.
Schickerling is also hugely influential on the drive and in maul stopping and his value was emphasised by the fact that when he was available he started more games than any other Stormers lock.
Regular captain Salmaan Moerat has been in excellent form lately but missed the last game against Ulster with what coach John Dobson described as plantar fasciiatis, a foot injury that road runners will be well acquainted with. It is an injury that can hover for a while but fortunately Dobson doesn’t reckon it will in Moerat’s case.
No place like home. See you there on Saturday.
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Defence coach Norman Laker was up for the media duties on Monday as the Stormers clicked back into work mode after the fortnight’s hiatus brought about by their non-participation in the early knock-out rounds in the URC.
He wasn’t asked about Moerat’s status, which was an oversight on the part of us media people, but he was asked about Schickerling.
“JD is back in training and is available for Saturday,” said Laker.
Whether Schickerling starts or not would depend on Moerat’s readiness for a return. Given that it is a landmark game for him, Van Heerden will be a certain starter, so Schickerling could well make his return from the bench if his captain is back in the selection mix.
Laker confirmed that Springbok blindside flank Ben-Jason Dixon is still out following his recent wrist surgery and the aggressive and bulky lock Adre Smith will be in Japan on sabbatical for the rest of the season so Schickerling’s return is timely and a big boost for the Cape side as they head into a final four match sequence that could make or break their season.
Although they lost their last game to Ulster, the Stormers did return from their two match tour with seven points from a possible 10.
So although they are out of the top eight at the moment, they are within one point of that bracket and all their remaining games are at DHL Stadium, something that half centurion Van Heerden welcomes.
“I can’t speak for the rest of the team but it has felt to me like it has been a long time since we have played at DHL Stadium,” said Van Heerden.
“Stellenbosch is in the Cape area but we played Glasgow Warriors there and it isn’t quite the same as DHL, while we played another game (against Toulon in the Investec Champions Cup) in Gqeberha.
"We have in fact only played four games at DHL Stadium this season and I can’t talk enough about what a difference that stadium makes for us. It is just such a special vibe there.
“So it is going to be great to be back there and also to be able to celebrate my 50th game there. I have loved being part of the Stormers, it is a special franchise. I arrived here almost by accident.
"I never had any plan to join the Stormers, it was not something I thought about, but when moving on from the Exeter Chiefs, who I had joined after my years with the Sharks, I needed somewhere to go and signed a short term deal that subsequently became permanent.
"It has turned out to be one of the best things I have ever done. I have really grown being part of this franchise.”
The news on some of the other Stormers players who have been on the injured list was less positive, with Manie Libbok still out with the leg injury sustained against Leinster in Dublin in late January and, while wing Seabelo Senatla is over his injury, he has now been ruled out with illness.
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