It appears increasingly unlikely that Springbok tighthead prop Frans Malherbe will play for the Stormers again.
The 35-year-old double World Cup winner is still recovering from a severe chronic back and neck injury, compounded by a recent hip setback, and has not featured since the Stormers’ Vodacom URC clash against the Scarlets in Llanelli in March 2025.
Malherbe’s contract expires at the end of the season and is unlikely to be renewed.
“Frans’ rehab is not complete yet,” Dobson said on Friday. “He’s training with us, but he’s not scrumming.”
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Dobson said the Stormers were well stocked at tighthead going into next season, with incoming Springbok Wilco Louw joining current front-rowers Neethling Fouché, Zachary Porthen and Sazi Sandi.
“The work Brokkie [scrum coach Brok Harris] has done with the front row culture is fantastic. When it comes to selection, I’ll say, ‘Brokkie, who do you want?’” Dobson said on Friday.
“At loosehead, Oli Kebble and Ali Vermaak are injured; Olly Reid is with the U20s, he is going to be exceptional, and we are still going out with Vernon Matongo and Ntuthuko Mchunu.
“Then at tighthead it is just crazy with Frans Malherbe injured, Wilco Louw is obviously not here yet, and Sazi Sandi is not playing; then we still rate Herman Lubbe very highly, and there is still Hencus van Wyk.
“I don’t think teams in the URC have got a second or third front row like that, so it is very important to us. The tighthead problem, it is a problem in terms of the oversupply.”
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However, Dobson said the Stormers would need that depth next season.
“We start with matches against Connacht, Edinburgh and the Sharks, and could be without our Springboks for nine matches. That’s when Sazi hits gold.
“We can’t tell Sazi, ‘listen, you’re not going to play now’, and then knock on his door later and say he’s super important. Sazi is also on a mission to become a Springbok.
“It’s going to be very, very tricky management when the Springboks aren’t playing.”
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Despite the selection headaches, Dobson believes tighthead depth remains crucial.
“We need all four of them,” he said. “I’ve got zero doubt because that’s our game model now; it is clear.”
Photo: Ziyaad Douglas/Gallo Images
The post Frans’ Stormers comeback hopes fading appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
It appears increasingly unlikely that Springbok tighthead prop Frans Malherbe will play for the Stormers again.
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