It isn’t often after a narrow defeat that the first question at a post-match press conference focuses on how good a player on the losing team was, but that happened after the DHL Stormers were edged by Munster in Cape Town last weekend. Coach John Dobson was asked about the form of Dan du Plessis, who this season has confirmed the prodigious promise he showed when he starred for Western Province Schools at the 2013 Craven Week in Polokwane.
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And although clearly disappointed at a defeat that may have ended his hopes of seeing his team host another home semifinal, Dobson managed through his funereal expression and mood to muster up the right amount of enthusiasm for Du Plessis’ contribution. The Stormers No 12 deserved it.
Du Plessis, now 28, looked very much the part of a certain future Springbok at that 2013 Craven Week tournament, running in four tries in his team’s opening win against the Pumas and generally dominating the prestigious schools week on his way to being selected for South African Schools. But although his first senior call up came just two years later, in 2015, to Dobson’s WP Vodacom Cup squad, injury prevented him from really kicking on to the sort of career that should have been envisaged back then.
That’s not to say he hasn’t played well when he has had the opportunity, and under both the previous Stormers coach Robbie Fleck and Dobson he showed glimpses of what he was capable of only to be cut down at the wrong time by injury. He was excellent for instance when he played in the Stormers’ URC winning season of 2021/2022 but was ruled out of the second half of the competition, and the Stormers’ memorable home winning run, by the concussion that became evident on the eve of the match against Connacht in Galway last February.
This season, but for a few niggles and Dobson did confirm he was struggling with his ankle before the Munster game, he’s stayed fit for the entire campaign and as a consequence he has picked up the momentum that has made him one of the Stormers’ most influential players both on attack and defence.
It hasn’t been confirmed yet but it is understood the son of former Springbok midfield wizard Michael, nephew of the Prince of Wings, Carel, and cousin to Jean-Luc has signed an extension to his contract. And after his contributions both taking the ball up over the advantage line and asking questions of the Munster defenders, and leading the press on defence against Munster, you can understand why the Stormers coaches will be delighted about that.
It was often Du Plessis who made the initial incision in the Munster defensive system and his value to the Stormers was only matched by his standing as a thorn in the side of his opponents.