Backline stars back but two stalwart Stormers forwards won’t tour

In rugby there’s invariably counter-balancing when it comes to players returning from injury being interfaced with players who are newly ruled out and that is the case with the DHL Stormers squad that will depart later on Tuesday for their two match Vodacom United Rugby Championship tour.

As the Stormers welcome back from injury the star backline trio of Damian Willemse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Suleiman Hartzenberg, as well as the promising young lock Conor Evans, so they have had to suffer the blow of losing Springbok blindside flank Ben-Jason Dixon.

According to a Stormers press release, Dixon will undergo wrist surgery this week. There was no indication of how long he would be out for but he will miss the entire tour and surgery usually means some considerable time out of the game.

Also missing the tour because of injury is scrumhalf Stef Ungerer, who was excellent in the wet weather win over the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria last time out and is considered an important horses for courses halfback option in the sense that his playing style does suit northern hemisphere conditions.

Ungerer is recovering from the groin strain that forced him off halfway through the Loftus game.

Stalwart tighthead prop Neethling Fouche is not injured but is staying behind to be at the birth of his second child.

Overall though the mood around the squad selection should be a positive one, with Frans Malherbe there to front in the No 3 jersey in the absence of Fouche while Marcel Theunissen, though a very different type of player to Dixon, is equally at home in all three back row positions and is long overdue a starting opportunity.

RETURN OF BOKS PRESENTS SELECTION QUANDARY

The return of Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Willemse gives Stormers director of rugby an interesting choice to make at the back, particularly around flyhalf and centre.

The star of the Loftus win, Jurie Matthee, is in the 30-man travelling group and could still be used at No 10 in one of the games, particularly if the conditions demand it, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu or Willemse playing alongside him in the No 12 jersey.

But then what happens to Dan du Plessis, who is also in the group. The experienced Du Plessis could also be used at outside centre, as can Willemse, who has operated in that channel when partnered with Du Plessis in the midfield in the past.

All in all it is a pleasing quandary for Dobson to face, one that would have been even more difficult were it not for the fact that Manie Libbok is still out injured and isn’t going on tour.

Hartzenberg should return as one of the starting wings as he is both too classy and pacy to leave out as for the first time this season the Stormers backline starts to move towards a full strength combination. An interesting selection for the tour is the uncapped Luke Burger.

It’s not quite as positive at forward, where the still sidelined JD Schickerling joins Dixon in sitting out from what would be the first choice pack. With Evans there and Gary Porter there is depth at lock and the same can be said for the front row positions, although Fouche is a big loss as he is such an influential player both on and off the field.

The Stormers start their tour against Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday before following up against Ulster in Belfast six days later. The fact there is a short turnaround between game does make it a tougher trip for the Stormers and it will be interesting to see how that impacts on the selection for the opening game.

Dobson is not hiding from the fact that this could be a make or break tour for his team.

Before the Loftus game he said that the Stormers needed to win two of their remaining three games before they start the four game home run that ends the league stage of the season, and while the win over the Bulls was one brick laid in their favour, the pressure is still on.

“This tour is crucial in the context of our campaign as we want to take some momentum into our home run that starts in mid-April,” said Dobson.

“It is fantastic to welcome back a few key players and they are looking to make a big impression.”

DHL Stormers touring squad

Forwards: Joseph Dweba, Willie Engelbrecht, Connor Evans, Dave Ewers, Deon Fourie, Brok Harris, JJ Kotze, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat (captain), Gary Porter, Evan Roos, Sazi Sandi, Sti Sithole, Marcel Theunissen, Ruben van Heerden, Andre-Hugo Venter, Ali Vermaak.

Backs: Luke Burger, Paul de Wet, Dan du Plessis, Dewaldt Duvenage, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Warrick Gelant, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Herschel Jantjies, Ben Loader, Jurie Matthee, Wandisile Simelane, Damian Willemse, Leolin Zas.