Scarra Ntubeni has been ruled out for an extended period and the Stormers have scrambled to secure a replacement hooker as they prepare for league leaders Leinster. DYLAN JACK reports.
The Stormers host eight-time champions Leinster in Cape Town on Saturday in a Vodacom United Rugby Championship top-of-the-table clash.
Hooker is a particular problem position for the Stormers, with Ntubeni having joined Andre-Hugo Venter and Chad Solomon on the sidelines.
Ntubeni had to be helped off the field with an achilles tendon injury early in the second half of the 32-7 bonus-point win over Glasgow Warriors on Saturday. The Springbok underwent scans on Monday and is expected to be out for an extended period.
During a media conference on Monday, attack coach Dawie Snyman confirmed that, to boost their depth in the position, the Stormers had successfully negotiated a short-term loan for Cheetahs and former Maties star Wilmar Arnoldi.
“Scarra’s injury looks like quite a bad one, so he will be out for a while,” Snyman said.
“We have got Wilmar Arnoldi in from the Cheetahs. We are blooding him in at this stage. We should have two players back in a week or two’s time. Andre-Hugo Venter and Chad Solomon should be back by then. Obviously JJ Kotze came through last week’s game with no niggles, so he is fine.”
Arnoldi is no stranger to the Western Cape, having helped Stellenbosch University’s Maties win the Varsity Cup in 2018, when he played alongside current Stormers tighthead prop Neethling Fouche.
The 27-year-old also has European experience as he made a handful of appearances for the Cheetahs in the PRO14.
“His main job this weekend will be to get the set piece right, so he will be working with Frans and the rest of the pack this week on scrumming and lineouts,” Snyman said.
“We know he is quite a tough player. He is good on the ground, he can steal the ball. He is quite a good defender and he is spot on in terms of his set piece. We know he has a great throw and is a very good scrummager.”
While head coach John Dobson suggested in the aftermath of the Glasgow game that the Stormers may have to turn to Deon Fourie to cover hooker, Snyman said the veteran would still be focusing on playing openside on Saturday.
“Deon’s versatility is great, but at the moment he is doing very well for us at loose forward. He still needs to be there as a backup. I didn’t really see him throwing during training today but, hopefully, we can sort out that position and keep Deon focusing on No 6.”
Photo: Frikkie Kapp/Gallo Images
