DHL Stormers coach John Dobson has lauded Springbok legend Cheslin Kolbe for being prepared to make financial sacrifices to return to the region that produced him and says that the double World Cup winner is coming back motivated to win trophies for the Cape team.
“We heard (Japan coach) Eddie Jones speaking about Cheslin the other day and we watched some Japanese club games,” said Dobson at the start of the preparation week for Saturday's Vodacom URC clash with Cardiff in Cape Town.
“Eddie just said that his work off the ball, his commitment, is phenomenal. Chessie is a prime athlete. This is a guy who will still be playing for us in 2029. Him coming back is not a retirement thing (to finish off his career). He wants to come back to win big trophies with the Stormers. He’s so excited about that.”
Dobson often references his Project 2029, which is the year the Stormers are working towards to mount a serious challenge for Champions Cup glory, and with Kolbe returning, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and other star players committed to the Stormers until that year plus Wilco Louw and Siya Kolisi returning to rub their experience off on the young talent coming through, the pieces are falling nicely into place.
KOLBE IS MAKING A COMMERCIAL SACRIFICE
However, Dobson was careful to stress that he is not in the market for signing marquee players, something that needs to be very finely balanced given the modern South African rugby eco system.
“It has been about four false starts over the years (in terms of getting Cheslin to return). He is desperate to come back and he’s not a big Galactico signing (in the sense that we’ve broken the bank). This is a guy who really wanted to come back to Cape Town and he wanted to play for the Stormers.
“He has made a commercial sacrifice around that which confirms his commitment to the team and it is greatly appreciated by the team. He wants to come back to where he comes from. He’d earn multiples of what he will earn here if he stayed overseas, in Japan, and he would also earn several fold more on a commercial basis at another (local) franchise.
“Real credit must go to him. He had to do a lot of heavy lifting (to get his return to the Stormers across the line). He was under contract in Japan. He has had to make a massive financial sacrifice but at no stage did he say to us we must match what he’d get in Japan or match what he might get offered upcountry (by another SA team). He really just wanted to be here.”
THERE’S A TIPPING POINT
Dobson added that everyone was well aware of the circumstances that have precipitated the return of another Stormers Prodigal Son, Bok captain Siya Kolisi, and said there were several other former Stormers and other big name SA players who have made enquiries about playing for the Stormers but that a tipping point has probably been reached.
“We are aware we have to draw a line. We have had a lot of enquiries from guys who have played for us in the past or who want to play for us and want to return to SA,” said Dobson.
“We are looking at (the experiences of) other franchises and we have had fewer Boks than the Sharks and the Bulls over the past few years. I think we are heading into a tricky phase in SA rugby where you don’t want to have too many Boks as you don’t have their services for quite a few games. We want the local eco system to be strong so it is a balancing act between having marquee players who people want to come and watch, which is what these two players (Kolbe and Kolisi) definitely are, and also having a team that is robust when the Springboks aren’t playing.
“Obviously one of the advantages we have is not just the lure of playing for the Stormers but also (living in) Cape Town and the Western Cape. I think we’d all agree there were special circumstances around the Siya deal. He wanted to be with his family and I think he’s done so much for SA rugby that he has earned the right to end his career where he wants to end it. He is not going to bankrupt us, he’s made it very palatable for us (to have him back).
“And the same with Cheslin. But we do want to stay disciplined around Project 2029. I am aware that is probably a bit beyond Siya, but Cheslin will only be 35 in 2029 so we will be expecting him to be playing for us then. We had a fantastic experience around Deon (Fourie) and Brok (Harris), who came back to us as older players and helped us change our culture. And these two probably will as well. We have some fantastic young backs coming through like Markus Muller, Joshua Boulle and JC Mars, imagine what they will get out of playing alongside Cheslin.”
X-FACTOR WILL BE HUGE
Not that Dobson’s estimation of Kolbe’s likely contribution is just centred on his experience and his inestimable value as a mentor.
“We all know his X-factor and we all know that we have struggled (a bit this season when it comes to pace out wide). We are a transition based team and we have lacked a bit of strike power out there so Cheslin will solve that,” said the Stormers coach.
Meanwhile Stormers stalwart tighthead prop and occasional captain Neethling Fouche shares in Dobson’s excitement around the return of not only Kolbe but also fellow Boks who were formerly Stormers in Kolisi and Louw, with the latter ensuring there will be tough competition for Fouche when it comes to the desire to wear the Stormers No 3 jersey.
“It is just excitement (that I feel). As Dobbo says, it is not a case of bringing in guys who haven’t been here before who will force the other guys to wait their turn, it is bringing back guys who have been here before, who have contributed to the Stormers before, who were here in some cases before I joined the Stormers,” said Fouche.
“They are old boys who worked really hard for the Stormers and then left with the Stormers’ blessing. The fact they want to come back shows their loyalty, they want to give back, and I am sure the other guys are going to learn so much from them. I know there are more guys who want to come back, but that is up to the coaches.
“But it’s not a case from buying from the top and then telling the other guys they have to wait. These are guys who have paid their dues and in Cheslin’s case we consider him one of us, we know he has always cheered us from afar. When he’s been back in Cape Town he’d always come and visit us and sit with Chippie (the late team manager Chippie Solomons) and talk about rugby and the Stormers.”