The DHL Stormers management will be waiting anxiously for the results of back scans that are due to be conducted next week on Springbok tighthead Frans Malherbe.
Stormers director of rugby John Dobson confirmed on Friday that it was because of a back injury that has been hovering around for a while that Malherbe has been withdrawn from the team that will face Connacht in a 15th round Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
Malherbe was withdrawn from selection on the eve of the team announcement, with Sazi Sandi now wearing the No3 jersey. Normally a Malherbe withdrawal wouldn’t register as seismic as Neethling Fouche would be available, but Fouche is out suspended for a few weeks following the ridiculous red card he received against Munster and the even more bizarre disciplinary hearing that followed it.
Dobson can’t resist the opportunity to drip with sarcasm every time there’s mention of Fouche in a press conference, and rightfully not. Some things just beggar belief and while coaches are muzzled some do need to be brave enough or the sheer incompetence that was writ large in the Fouche incident on match day and in the hearing that followed will just become self-perpetuating. Rugby as a sport needs that far less than any negative spinoff from straight talking honesty.
Not that Fouche is Dobson’s big concern right now - his main concern is Malherbe and when he might be available to play for the Stormers again.
“I wish I could say it was a precautionary measure to pull him out of the selection for this game but unfortunately I can’t do that,” said Dobson.
“The reality is that it is a back injury and he has had some problems with posture in setting up for scrums for some time. We withdrew him on medical advice pending scans on the affected area. He could be just missing this game and will be back in the selection mix next week, or he could be out for a lot longer. It all depends on what comes out of the scans and with back injuries you nevr know. It could be disastrous.”
Of course Dobson is well versed now in “disastrous” outcomes when it comes to props being medically assessed after what happened to Malherbe’s long standing front row partner at both the Stormers and Springboks, Steven Kitshoff, after an injury sustained in a Currie Cup game last August. Kitshoff never played again and was forced to retire a month and a bit ago.
While too much alarmism over Malherbe would be misplaced and premature, his absence coupled with that of Fouche does give Dobson a chance to look at the future through the performances that Sandi will deliver as Malherbe’s stand-in.
“We rate Sazi highly and we think he has a big future and maybe having two really good established tightheads in Frans and Neethling playing for us has limited his game time to his detriment. So this is his opportunity to step in and show what he can do and to develop. As disappointed as I am to see Frans ruled out, I am excited about seeing Sandi get his chance.”
Dobson is also thankful that Brok Harris, who it feels like has been around since the rinderpest, is so ever-green. The 40-year-old would-be coach is backing up Sandi at tighthead on Saturday and is equally at home on both sides of the scrum.