The Stormers will head into Saturday’s Vodacom URC clash against the Lions without three of their most influential backs, but coach John Dobson insists there is “absolute confidence” in the game plan despite the disruption.
Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, centre Ruhan Nel and fullback Damian Willemse all miss out through injury, leaving the Stormers to reconfigure their backline for the match at Cape Town Stadium.
Jurie Matthee will don the No10 jersey while Wandisile Simelane starts at outside centre.
While Willemse has been a long-term injury absence, the loss of Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Nel definitely was not in the script ahead of the Stormers’ final match of 2025.
TEAM: Stormers suffer double injury setback
“It all happened in the space of a few minutes at training,” Dobson said, explaining that the Springbok flyhalf had picked up a slight groin strain, while Nel was out with a more serious calf injury.
“We had hoped Sacha might come through, but it’s not worth the risk. We’ve seen how these injuries can get nasty.”
Dobson confirmed that Feinberg-Mngomezulu should return for the clash away to the Vodacom Bulls on 3 January. Nel, however, faces a longer spell on the sidelines.
“Ruhan’s got a Grade 2 calf. That’s six to eight weeks,” he said. “He’s a big loss. He leads our defence and does a lot of work that puts opposition under pressure.”
Willemse, meanwhile, was close to selection but has been given another week to ensure he is “100% safe”.
Despite the absence of three Springboks, Dobson stressed the Stormers’ belief in their approach.
“Sacha’s played three games for us this season,” he said. “Some of our best results came with a different back-three combination, so there’s absolute confidence in what our plan is for Saturday.”
TEAM: Lions alter midfield for Stormers clash
Captain Salmaan Moerat echoed that sentiment, while acknowledging the experience being lost.
“Those players are key figures in our team and we’ll certainly miss what they bring,” Moerat said. “But the guys playing tomorrow have been involved for most of the season, and our system allows people to slot in seamlessly.”
Moerat said the systems the Stormers have embedded will be key to overcoming the injury-enforced absences and also the threat posed by the Lions, who arrive in Cape Town eager to spoil the festive season party.
SUPERBRU: Stormers blitz Lions, Sharks sink Bulls
“They’re extremely dangerous,” he said. “They’ve got a quality scrum and some amazing, elusive backline players. They’ll want to disrupt us and we’re fully aware of that.”
Dobson warned against being drawn into an open shoot-out.
“The Lions want a high-paced game and to capitalise on turnovers,” he said. “We can’t be seduced into that. We’ve got to be direct, build pressure and make sure we control how the game is played.”
AFRICA PICKS: Handicap steal on red hot Stormers
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post Dobbo: Stormers can overcome injury crisis appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.