DHL Stormers rugby director John Dobson will head into the November international break and a short holiday before he returns to start preparations for the December resumption feeling like his team is in a good place - but also with quite a few things to think about.
There was good and bad on Dobson’s mind at the press conference after the 33-7 win over Ulster at DHL Stadium at the weekend. First the good - Yaqeen Ahmed and Markus Muller were good enough in their first starting outing together in the Stormers’ 10/12 decision making axis for Dobson to acknowledge that he might have some selection quandaries going forward.
He already has a Springbok starting flyhalf on his books in Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, but as former Bok and Stormers prop Robbi Kempson noted in his role as Supersport in studio analyst after the game, “Ahmed is an unbelievable talent” and he suggested that Ahmed challenging to play for the Boks, rather than just tour with them, might not be out of the question.
And Muller, standing in for the late injury to Jonathan Roche, produced a performance alongside Ahmed that made Dobson think that he could have a few admittedly pleasing headaches ahead when it comes to selection.
“We used to have a problem when we had Manie (Libbok) and Sacha both here, now we have Sacha and Yaqeem,” said Dobson.
“Although they are both flyhalves, and want to play flyhalf, I’d consider playing one of them at centre, where they’d be very capable, but now we have things coming together in the midfield. I thought Markus was outstanding in this game.
"Going forward we are going to have some selection issues to consider. Fortunately I know how long and demanding the season is, and we will be able to give everyone sufficient opportunities.”
CONCERN OVER ROOS
Dobson’s immediate concern is the return to action game against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban on 5 December and when it comes to that clash there’s a lot of uncertainty following a combination of Springbok call ups and injuries.
And on the injury front there was a new concern for Dobson on Saturday night as Evan Roos left the field early in the second half, in fact just after scoring a spectacular try, with an injury that might keep him sidelined for the Sharks clash.
“It looks like a medial ligament injury but he hasn’t been scanned yet so I don’t know. It could be serious but at least it’s not an ACL. It could be six weeks, it could be a month,” said Dobson.
If it is a month then Roos could just make it for the Durban game. Also seemingly in doubt for Durban is wing Leolin Zas, who limped off before halftime. However, in both instances at least there are some good players heading back to fitness in the interim.
Ruan Ackermann is due back after the break, and so is Keke Morabe, while Hacjivah Dayimani, who has played some good games at No 8 for the Stormers this season, should also be back.
DIXON STILL STRUGGLING WITH CONCUSSION
When it comes to the other loose-forwards who could be backing up for Roos, there’s still uncertainty over when his fellow Bok Ben-Jason Dixon will return to playing as he continues to battle with ongoing concussion protocols, while Marcel Theunissen will only return after his operation later in December or in January.
“Ben-Jason is struggling with delayed concussion symptoms and that is just not something you can mess around with. Theoretically he could be ready for the Durban game, we just don’t know at this stage.”
There’s an easy replacement for Zas standing by should he not be ready for Kings Park in December - Springbok double World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe, who had not recovered enough from his broken jaw sustained in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series to make the current Bok tour but will be ready to make his eagerly awaited return to Stormers colours in December.
“Zassy also picked up some sort of knee injury so Cheslin will be a good replacement on the wing,” said the coach.
Of course Kolbe can also play fullback, but Dobson is well covered there in the likely Bok inspired absence in Durban of Damian Willemse, with both Warrick Gelant and young JC Mars, who a lot is expected of when he does get to play, more than capable players.
PREPARING FOR CHAT WITH ‘UNCLE CHARLES’
Bok coach Rassie Erasmus’ selections for the away leg of the Nations Championship have thrown a bit of a curve-ball at Dobson’s plans for Durban, where the likes of Ahmed and Riley Norton were almost certain to feature in the absence of the frontline Boks, who Dobson has almost already ruled out due to the just six day gap between the URC derby and the final Bok Nations Championship game.
“We (Boks) will hopefully be in the final of the Nations Championship. It would be a bit much to expect any players of ours who play in that game to be ready to play in the Durban game just six days later. But the Boks were very good around releasing players when they were last overseas. You will remember Siya (Kolisi) joined us in Ireland from Australia.
“So hopefully I can have a chat with Uncle Charles (Bok logisitics manager Charles Wessels) and see who we can get back for the Kings Park game, meaning guys who will not be playing on that final weekend.”
MBONAMBI WILL BE EAGER FOR DURBAN CLASH
One of the Stormers’ Boks who will be eager to play in Durban is new recruit Bongi Mbonambi. The double World Cup winner had to sit out on Saturday against Ulster because of a slight twinge sustained in training that the Stormers decided they didn’t want to risk but Mnbonambi will now have a several week training block with which to get himself fit and ready for a big push in December.
The Stormers’ starting hooker Vernon Paulo turned in a solid showing against Ulster, thus erasing memories of his lineout failures in Edinburgh a few weeks ago.
“It’s weird how people jump on a guy after just one game. Vernon was really good in this game and was the DHL internal man of the match,” said Dobson.
That being so, hooker could still be a concern for the Stormers against the Sharks if Mbonambi is not fit as JJ Kotze, the regular back-up to first choice Andre-Hugo Venter, who is out injured for three months, will still be serving his three match suspension following his red card against Bristol Bears when the Stormers head to Durban.