The Stormers will give Frans Malherbe some extra rest after the prop put in a big shift against the Scarlets this past Saturday. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
There will be some changes to the Stormers’ starting lineup for their final tour match against Ulster on Friday evening in Belfast.
Springbok tighthead prop Frans Malherbe will be sent home for some rest after an excellent scrummaging display this past weekend with Neethling Fouche flying to Ireland after the birth of his second child. Utility back Suleiman Hartzenberg, who recovered from a broken hand, could find himself part of the starting lineup, but utility forward Deon Fourie suffered a concussion and is unavailable for selection.
The Cape side’s United Rugby Championship (URC) playoff hunt is firmly on track after beating Scarlets 29-17 in Llanelli. They find themselves eighth on the log with their fate in their own hands.
After the bonus point win in Wales, the inaugural URC champions want to back their performance up with a consecutive win in Europe. It’s something they have been struggling to do since the inception of the competition.
“We’ll go full mettle jacket for Ulster,” director of rugby John Dobson said.
“There will be some enforced changes with Deon out, we also want to get Suleiman back on the field. I just didn’t want three backs (Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse returned after injuries) who haven’t played for many months on the field simultaneously (against the Scarlets).
“If we can get God-willing a win or a couple of points up in Belfast, it really tees us up nicely for the four home games left. We also don’t want to give guys just caps, so we’ll select a full-strength team for Ulster. I feel sorry for someone like Jurie Matthee because we didn’t use him (against the Scarlets) off the bench.”
Dobson jokingly mentioned a Kudu plague in the Northern Cape Malherbe will aim to eradicate upon his return to South Africa. But on a serious note, he added that the experienced tighthead will enjoy a break over the next few weeks before the home stretch in Cape Town.
The same fate will likely be for Fourie after his concussion following a collision in a tackle with captain Salmaan Moerat, who led the physical charge of the Stormers with aplomb.
“This game was direct and physical, and Moon (Moerat) epitomised that for us. He was magnificent with both his carries and in defence. As the match went on, though, we lost that edge when we gave away too many penalties, some silly ones, and we lost too much ball possession at the breakdown.
“The plan was to be direct and physical to open the space up out wide. Credit must go to the Scarlets for how they fought. The breakdown and scrums were a contest. I thought we would do more damage there.
“I was frustrated with some elements of our performance and that last gasp break of Archie Hughes (Scarlets’ replacement scrumhalf) summed it up. But the players feel that we are turning in the right direction. Loftus was a huge turning point for us.”
The Stormers scored some excellent tries on Saturday, including one that will probably be up there as ‘try of the season’ with fullback Warrick Gelant and his dummy passes and lock Ruben van Heerden with his own bit of passing magic in the thick of things.
Dobson is convinced the return of Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse will get better with the next game, although the former put in a Player of the Match performance.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu had a steady return, not without error, but showed that he is not afraid to take contact or make plays. That was a good sign for the Stormers, although Dobson said they and probably all their supporters were on the edge of their seats when the flyhalf chose to run into one of the biggest players of the Scarlets.
He was tackled without arms and won a penalty but paid for it with a bloody face that required bandaging.
“It’s almost like he doesn’t want to make halftime. We will deal with him later,” Dobson said with a laugh.
