The DHL Stormers may need to find both a new captain as well as a new inside centre for Saturday’s opening Investec Champions Cup clash with French giants Toulon in Gqeberha on Saturday (Kick-off 5:15pm).
Stormers skipper Dan du Plessis left the field before the end of the hard-fought 21-15 defeat to the Hollywoodbets Sharks at the weekend and he was listed as a doubtful starter for Saturday’s game by forwards coach Rito Hlungwani on Monday.
Under normal circumstances, with the Stormers having most of the players on their books available, the loss of Du Plessis might not have been so problematic, but Hlungwani confirmed that Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s concussion that forced him from the field in the early stages of the Durban game will force him to miss the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium clash.
Although Feinberg-Mngomezulu played flyhalf against the Sharks and delivered some statement performances for the Springboks in that position before being injured during the international season, he is also well traveled as an inside centre and has actually played that position for more for the Stormers than he has pivot.
The other player who would normally have been an option in the No 12 jersey is Damian Willemse.
However, the versatile Bok backline star was injured playing there for the Stormers in the URC game Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash with Glasgow Warriors in Stellenbosch before the international break.
He is expected to be out until early next year.
There is no obvious replacement, for while Hlungwani mentioned a few players, the likes of Ruhan Nel, Suleiman Hartzenberg and Wandesile Simelane are mainly outside centres, and Ben Loader, who helped out in the midfield for a time last season, is out injured.
Jean-Luc du Plessis, who played there and excelled with his tactical game before being injured just short of halftime in a winning derby performance against the Vodacom Bulls last Christmas might be the best option if the Stormers want to go for experience.
But Hlungwani did come up with another exciting possibility - Jonathan Roche.
Roche is a 21-year-old midfield player considered to be of high promise, something he showed in snatches when he played for Western Province in the Currie Cup before injury cut his stint in the domestic competition short.
Roche has recovered from his injury and Hlungwani reckons he is ready to play for the Stormers if required even though a Champions Cup game would be one heck of a place to be introduced to top flight rugby.
“He’s ready, it is just a matter of us being brave and being prepared to back him. If an opportunity presents itself I am sure he will do well, he is a good player,” said Hlungwani.
We are in Gqeberha for Round One of the Investec Champions Cup this weekend.
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) December 2, 2024
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MOERAT BACK IN TRAINING, BUT NOT READY YET
The Stormers will have to find a new captain in the absence of Du Plessis, and it is unfortunate for coach John Dobson that this game falls just short of regular captain Salmaan Moerat’s return to the field.
According to Hlungwani, Moerat is back in training but won’t be ready to play a game for at least another week.
Ditto Springbok tighthead Frans Malherbe, while Deon Fourie’s return to action has been slated for the 21 December URC derby against the Lions in Cape Town.
Saturday’s match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium has been selling well, with more than 16 000 tickets sold six days ahead of kick-off, an indication of both how popular the Stormers are in the Eastern Cape as well as how starved of top rugby the people of that region are.
It is hoped there will be a crowd of 30 000 or more to cheer the Stormers on.
The last time the Stormers hosted a game there it was a URC clash with the Dragons, and the people of Gqeberha turned out in their numbers to cheer on a big Stormers win.
"What I remember about that game was how loud the supporters were and how passionate everyone in Gqeberha was having us play there," said flanker Willie Engelbrecht, who if he plays will be notching his landmark 50th cap in the Toulon game.
This is arguably a much bigger game than the URC league game against the lowly Dragons was in late 2022, and with so many legendary Springboks having played for Toulon over the past two decades, among them Bakkies Botha, Eben Etzebeth, Bryan Habana, Duane Vermuelen and Joe van Niekerk, Toulon have long been the one French team that South African fans identify with.
"We are very excited to be playing in Gqeberha and remember the support we got last time we were there," said Hlungwani.
The Stormers team for the match will be named on Friday.