John Dobson says the Stormers have a plan for phasing their Springboks back, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu unlikely to start all four of the club’s matches in October.
Speaking ahead of next Friday’s URC round 1 fixture against Connacht in Galway, Dobson noted the current period was particularly challenging for the Stormers because of player availability.
He said the Stormers are able to select the returning Boks after the 4 October clash at Edinburgh, but the priority will be managing them carefully while keeping the squad in sync.
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“When we did it all at once last year we actually lost a bit of shape just because of the lack of cohesion and the amount of changes we made, and maybe not giving them enough time to align with what we are doing,” the Stormers boss told the media.
“That en masse introduction and replacement of the guys that got us to where we got last year was perhaps a mistake that we made. So that will be much more intentional and focused this year.”
Among the 10 Stormers’ current front-line Boks are the injured Cheslin Kolbe, Siya Kolisi and Wilco Louw, who all return to Cape Town this season.
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“Cheslin is a blow that he won’t play the upfront matches, because I think he would have … it’s common knowledge that we’ve been a little bit light on the wings over the last season or two,” Dobson said.
“What is interesting is we offered all our Springboks a week off beyond the Edinburgh game. Not one of those three guys took up that right.
“They’re not the only ones. The other guys also didn’t take up that right. All of them showed their commitment to the Stormers and they wanted to play every game. Obviously, Cheslin is just injured now.”
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On managing the workload of Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who has started five successive Tests after an injury lay-off, Dobson added: “We are going to have to be brave. He’s obviously a big name and he is the Springbok No 1 flyhalf.
“But, he has played four games in a row, 80 minutes against New Zealand. I don’t know what the plans are for Australia.
“We’re going to have to manage him and back Yaqeen [Ahmed] and Jurie [Matthee]. Sacha won’t return to be the starting 10 in all four games in October, that’s not going to happen.”
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
The post ‘We’re going to have to be brave with Sacha’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
John Dobson says the Stormers have a plan for phasing their Springboks back, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu unlikely to start all four of the club’s matches in October.
The post ‘We’re going to have to be brave with Sacha’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
