The Stormers will take the field at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday looking to honour two of the club’s most cherished figures.
The Vodacom URC clash against Connacht comes just days after the passing of long-time team manager Chippie Solomon, while veteran hooker Scarra “Scat” Ntubeni could be playing his final match for the Stormers.
Dobson admitted it has been an emotional week for the squad.
“This game is significant for a number of reasons, but overwhelmingly for Chippie,” he said. “Out of tragic necessity, Chippie’s dreams have become ours.”
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Captain Ruhan Nel described the week as one of the toughest in his career.
“Obviously with Uncle Chippie, it’s been a tough week, probably one of the heavier weeks I think this group will experience in most of our careers.
“The team really got through some good work, good conversations and we managed actually to still grow, acknowledging the tough time that we’re in, but also being able to shift our focus to getting some rugby done as well.”
Nel believes the emotional weight can be a positive if handled correctly – that it was important not to become blinded by the raw emotion of the occasion and have “tunnel vision”.
“There’s a difference between having emotion and being emotional,” he explained. “It’s about channelling that in the right way and using it to do our jobs.”
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The match will also mark a significant moment for 35-year-old Ntubeni, a one-club man who has given more than 15 years to the Stormers.
“Scatti is an absolute Stormers man, a Province man and the ultimate teammate,” Nel said.
“He lives and breathes Stormers. He might not be involved in a matchday squad every single week, but the contribution he brings to the team, the level of emotional and physical investment is always right up there.
“One can’t fault an effort like that and I think for a guy to have spent his entire career at one club speaks volumes about him and how much the club means to him.
“This is potentially his last game in the Stormers jersey and we all want to make it a really special one for him.”
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Dobson also paid tribute to Ntubeni who joined the Stormers set-up almost straight out of school as a 20-year-old.
“He’s one of the top handful of people I’ve ever coached,” he said. “The quality of the person he is, the way he gives of himself, it’s incredibly special.”
The Stormers boss confirmed the team was eager to give Ntubeni a proper send-off.
“We wanted one definite game where we could all acknowledge one of the great servants of Stormers rugby. Let’s give ‘Scat’ a proper farewell.”
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Photos: Steve Haag/Carl Fourie/Gallo Images
The post Stormers to honour legends Chippie and Scat appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Stormers will take the field at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday looking to honour two of the club’s most cherished figures.
The post Stormers to honour legends Chippie and Scat appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
