John Dobson admits the Stormers were caught off guard by Salmaan Moerat’s impending departure and are now scrambling for replacements.
Moerat is set to join La Rochelle, while Ruben van Heerden is bound for Montpellier, leaving a significant hole in the Stormers’ second-row stocks.
“We didn’t expect to lose two locks,” Dobson told Rapport. “We’ve known for some time about Ruben going to Montpellier, and then Salmaan got his opportunity.”
Dobson revealed the lack of available quality locks in South Africa had complicated recruitment, with the likes of Cobus Wiese and JF van Heerden tied down to the Vodacom Bulls.
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“We are talking to one player overseas, but it’s just a conversation at the moment and nothing more,” he said.
The Stormers currently have JD Schickerling, Adré Smith, Alex Groves, Adam de Waal and Tom Barnard on their books, while Gary Porter is making a comeback after long-term injury.
Dobson said there was also a lot of confidence in 24-year-old Connor Evans, while another solution could lie in shifting seven-Test Springbok Ben-Jason Dixon into the second row.
“[Junior Boks captain] Riley [Norton] also makes us super excited,” he added.
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
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John Dobson admits the Stormers were caught off guard by Salmaan Moerat’s impending departure and are now scrambling for replacements.
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