As they prepare to resume their Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign without the services of several Springboks, the DHL Stormers have recruited a former player to boost their depth at flyhalf. DYLAN JACK reports.
The Stormers will be back in action on Friday night when they welcome Scarlets to Cape Town Stadium, but will do so without a host of experienced players on Bok duty.
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This contingent includes star backs Manie Libbok and Damian Willemse, loose forwards Evan Roos and Deon Fourie, lock pair Salmaan Moerat and Marvin Orie and veteran props Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe.
The absence of Libbok and Willemse in particular could be key, especially as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has returned from international duty with an unspecified injury. This means that promising 21-year-old Kade Wolhuter could make his first Vodacom URC appearance for the Stormers, having made his debut in the PRO14 Rainbow Cup.
The Stormers have also recruited Jean-Luc du Plessis, the 28-year-old playmaker who has returned to the Western Cape after a stint in Japan.
“Sacha is going for a scan. We are waiting to hear back about his injury,” assistant coach Norman Laker told the media on Monday. “We do have Kade Wolhuter who has been training with us and we have also brought back Jean-Luc du Plessis.
“I think we have enough experience and talent at 10 to fill Manie’s shoes.”
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Laker backed the Stormers’ squad depth to carry them through Friday’s encounter, which comes ahead of a busy December period that will include Champions Cup fixtures.
“We are just as confident in the guys that we have available,” said Laker. “They may not be as experienced, but they are very good.
“We have been working with them for the last couple of years. These are guys who have put up their hands in training and have some games under the belt. It will be nice to see what they are capable of and what they bring to the team.”
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