The injury to Keke Morabe notwithstanding, DHL Stormers coach John Dobson said he was delighted with what he and his team got out of their friendly against Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens at the weekend.
Morabe limped off the field shortly before halftime in the 45-29 win after being an impressive figure off the back of the Stormers scrum.
What a great day out in Northampton. 7⃣ tries and plenty of great memories made. Thanks for having us @SaintsRugby. #NORvSTO #iamastormer #dhldelivers pic.twitter.com/j2z3fJVNob
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) March 9, 2024
Although he is not currently the Stormers’ first choice No 8, Morabe has been in good form when he has started for the Stormers and it will be a blow if he is out for any length of time.
“We were very pleased with some of the guys’ individual performances. Unfortunately Keke Morabe twisted his knee and we will wait for scans before we determine how long he is out for, but in the 30 odd minutes he was on the field he made three steals and scored a really good try,” said Dobson.
Other players to impress Dobson included centre Wandesile Simelane, who made his first start for the Stormers. Judging from the evidence shown on the Saints Youtube TV channel, Simelane turned in a busy performance and helped get his team go forward. He was also the scorer of the first Stormers try.
“The other guys who I thought did well were flyhalf Jurie Matthee, both the scrumhalves that we used in the game, Gary Porter and all of the locks. I thought all the locks did well,” said Dobson.
Overall Dobson felt playing and beating the Gallagher Premiership log leaders was a great experience for his men as well as a partial pick me up after the disappointment of losing to the Bulls in their last competition match
“We were very pleased with the experience and the outcome in the game. With one exception we were without our alignment player and of course Northampton were without six or seven England internationals. But they are pace setters in he Premiership so to get that outcome was really pleasing,” said the Stormers coach.
“The fluency in our attack and our kicks and turnovers was really good and it was good to see the guys embracing the challenge. Some guys only got here on Friday. It was a short trip and a direct flight this time, and we played at one of the bastions of English rugby, a proud club, and we did well. At one stage they threatened to come back at us and we took it away nicely.
“We had some really good scrumming in the first half and having Sazi Sani playing for us like he did was really important for us.
“We got a result in the middle of winter in the northern hemisphere. I know they play an open style of rugby, not completely like the other Premiership teams, but it was important for us to show we can win here. We had a good work rate and the enjoyment levels of playing together and against them was great.
“I know it is not the same as playing the Bulls in terms of it being a different team, a different competition and different level of importance but it was a good panacea for the disappointment of last week’s result. It was a very good experience for us in terms of our growth and it is a happy team and a happy changeroom. It is a good space for us to be in as we tackle what will be a really tough couple of weeks culminating in the game against La Rochelle in Cape Town on 6 April.
The Stormers’ next game is their Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash with Edinburgh in a fortnight from now, followed closely by another important home URC game against Ulster before the round of 16 Investec Champions Cup game against the European champions comes into view.