The DHL Stormers were always going to head into their eagerly anticipated Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby against the Vodacom Bulls a little under-strength but the team announcement on Friday unveiled a combination that is more injury impacted than expected.
Manie Libbok has not recovered from the knee injury sustained against Leinster in Dublin two weeks ago and will be replaced by Jurie Matthee in the No 10 jersey, with a shoulder injury to Ruhan Nel also meaning a necessary change at outside centre. Tighthead prop Neethling Fouche is out with concussion and loosehead Ali Vermaak with a leg injury.
Those were all injuries that weren’t clear at the start of the week. The one that was clear was JD Schickerling, with the lock out for a month or two because of a knee injury, and add those to the continued absences of Suleiman Hartzenberg, who will be back next month once he’s recovered from a hand injury, Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu it is clear that this will be a game that will seriously test the Stormers’ depth.
Wandesile Simelane, who has been good for the Stormers the last few times he has played, is equipped to make a positive point in the absence of Nel, while Matthee has played enough for the Stormers recently to be entrusted with the pivot responsibilities. He will be helped in this game by the fact that the experienced Dan du Plessis is back from his own injury layoff and will play inside centre, with the promising young Jonathan Roche dropping to the bench.
CHANGE TO BENCH SPLIT
Stormers coach John Dobson has opted for a five/three split between forwards and backs for this game as opposed to his more common six/two split, something that can be explained by the need to have cover for Du Plessis, who hasn’t played for the Stormers since the end of November. It is also true that in the last game against Leinster the first half injury to Libbok provided a reminder of the risk in inherent in not having cover for key backline positions.
So Roche will be there to cover for Du Plessis, and we should see him on the field at inside centre in the second half, while Clayton Blommetjies will cover both flyhalf and fullback.
Sazi Sandi, who was outstanding in the first ever URC match between these two teams at Loftus in early 2022, comes onto the bench to cover Frans Malherbe in Fouche’s place. In non-injury related changes, Stefan Ungerer returns to partner Matthee at halfback, with Herschel Jantjies backing up scrumhalf from the reserves.
Ungerer was excellent in his last game for the Stormers and played a big part in the 40-0 win over Sale Sharks at DHL Stadium and Dobson will be hoping he can repeat the performance. Indeed, with the obvious caveat that without Libbok the Stormers lose the x-factor presence that is such a key player in their transitional play.
CHANCE FOR MATTHEE TO CAPITALISE ON HARD WORK
However, Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman took an upbeat view of the forced change at flyhalf.
“Jurie has been in the background working really hard at his game and will be relishing this opportunity to play,” said Snyman.
“He has played some key games for us. We all remember his good game against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road last season, and he also played in the (friendly) game that we won against Northampton Saints. He was at flyhalf when we won away against the Sharks last February and he really played well in that game.
“So this is a great opportunity for him and an opportunity for him to show the benefits of all the studying and training he has put in. Of course he and Manie are very different players. Jurie is more tactical and Manie is a lot more instinctive. But both of them have elements of their game that bring X-factor”.
Snyman is as positive about the contribution that Simelane, who moved to the Stormers from the Bulls last season, can make against his old teammates.
"Wandisile has been doing really well and this is a massive opportunity for him as it is a big game. It is special for him to play in, and he looks really excited to get going against his old mates.”
Snyman added that all the players selected were good enough to play for the Stormers and should be able to fit in seamlessly after all the time they have spent training with the squad.
“All the players go through the same training and have same way and same mindset,” said the Stormers attack coach.
“Just as we will focus on Jurie’s strengths in this game, and bringing the best out of the way he plays, so we will do the same with Sazi. We will focus on what he brings and is comfortable with.”
PUTTING DEPTH TO TEST ON VERY BIG DAY
Stormers skipper Salmaan Moerat concurred with Snyman’s view and said that the work the coaches had been putting in for the purpose of creating depth would be showcased in this game.
“I think a north/south derby is one of biggest rugby derbies in the world and the ticket sales this week have clearly shown that. The public are obviously very excited and where both teams are at the moment adds to that excitement,” said Moerat.
“The Bulls will be up for it and we will definitely be up for it. The pressure we are under going into this game is why we play professional rugby. It is something most of us dreamed about when we were very young kids.
“It is unfortunate with the injuries, particularly the timing of them, because this is a crucial game. We have eight or nine top players out at the moment and many of them are really key players. But while someone like Neethling will be sorely missed, Sazi is really keen to play, and we all know he has the quality. The coaches have done really well when it comes to nurturing depth.
“Someone like Jurie is also a quality player. You can’t compare him and Manie, because they are so different and have their own qualities. Jurie would have dreamed about playing this kind of game and he is fairly young still so he is very excited. The injuries have presented those players and us as a team an opportunity (for growth).”
DHL Stormers team: Warrick Gelant, Ben Loader, Wandisile Simelane, Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas, Jurie Matthee, Stefan Ungerer, Evan Roos, Ben-Jason Dixon, Deon Fourie, Ruben van Heerden, Salmaan Moerat (captain), Frans Malherbe, Joseph Dweba, Sti Sithole.
Replacements: Andre-Hugo Venter, Brok Harris, Sazi Sandi, Gary Porter, Marcel Theunissen, Herschel Jantjies, Jonathan Roche, Clayton Blommetjies.