An arm injury to Springbok Damian Willemse has prompted DHL Stormers coach John Dobson to recall Rikus Pretorius to his starting line-up for Saturday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against Edinburgh at DHL Stadium.
Dobson said all his players had a clean bill of health when he spoke to the media earlier in the week, so there must have been a sudden flare-up for Willemse, who Dobson said had been given as much time as possible to prove his fitness. It might have been touch and go, but the quality of Pretorius, who himself has just returned from a layoff precipitated by concussion, made it an easier decision.
“We gave Damian as much time as we could to be ready for this match, but in the end it was not worth the risk, especially as we have a quality player in Rikus ready to start at 12,” said Dobson.
“It also gives the talented Sacha Mngomezulu and opportunity to show what he can do when he comes on.”
The selection of 20-year-old Mngomezulu to make his debut off the bench in such an important game can be seen as a left field move but it also speaks volumes for Dobson’s rating of the young flyhalf-cum-fullback. Mngomezulu made his Carling Currie Cup debut for Western Province last season but hasn’t played much in the senior domestic competition this year due to him being a key player in the WP under-20 side that made the national final recently.
Mngomezulu is an excellent kicker both out of hand and at posts and is seen as a certain Stormers star so this will be a great opportunity for him should he get onto the field. With Dobson committed to a six/two split between forwards and backs on the bench, he had to opt for a utility player on the bench and Mngomezulu fits that bill.
There are two changes to the side that beat Scarlets, with the other being the anticipated return of Springbok scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies now that he is over the hand injury that kept him out of recent matches. He replaces Stefan Ungerer, who has returned to Griquas for the end of the Currie Cup season before heading back to Cape Town to start his WP contract next month.
Mngomezulu comes onto the bench in place of Cornel Smit, with the only other change to the match day squad being Adre Smith coming in as lock cover. Ernst van Rhyn covered lock against Scarlets but looks likely to cover flank this time, with Marcel Theunissen, playing for WP in their Currie Cup match against Griquas on Friday afternoon, the man to drop out.
Dobson said his team was eager to make the most of the opportunity to play a quarterfinal which, by the indications of the ticket sales, will be the biggest crowd to have supported the Stormers since the move to Cape Town Stadium at the end of the Covid lockdown year.
“A lot of hard work has gone into securing this home quarterfinal, so we are determined to rise to the occasion,” said Dobson.
“It has been a good week of preparation and everyone is excited about what should be a memorable day.”
DHL Stormers team:Warrick Gelant, Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel, Rikus Pretorius, Leolin Zas, Manie Libbok, Herschel Jantjies, Evan Roos, Hacjivah Dayimani, Deon Fourie, Marvin Orie, Salmaan Moerat, Frans Malherbe, JJ Kotze, Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements:Andre-Hugo Venter, Brok Harris, Neethling Fouche, Adre Smith, Ersnt van Rhyn, Nama Xaba, Godlen Masimla, Sacha Mngomezulu.