With Ulster subsequent up for the Stormers this weekend, Dobson now has a little bit of a variety headache on his fingers.
Former Lions and Bulls utility again Wandisile Simelane put in an announcement efficiency over the weekend as he helped the Stormers energy to a formidable 43-21 win over Edinburgh within the United Rugby Championship (URC) in Cape Town on Saturday.
It was arguably Simelane’s greatest efficiency since leaving the Lions in 2022, the place he made plenty of glowing performances earlier than falling out of favour, shifting onto the Bulls the place he was unable to safe an everyday beginning berth.
A season ending knee damage to Ruhan Nel in December then noticed the Stormers decide to deliver Simelane in to bolster their backline, whereas there have been hopes his transfer would reignite his profession, because it did for his good buddy Hacjivah Dayimani when he made the transfer from the Highveld to the coast.
First start
Simelane made his debut for the Stormers off the bench against the Sharks in Durban final month, whereas this previous weekend was his first start, enjoying in his most well-liked exterior centre function, and coach John Dobson admitted his exhibiting had given him lots to consider.
“If I was to replay the game (against the Bulls) at Loftus… we thought hard about playing him there, on that field against his old team, and Dan (du Plessis) is not really a 13, maybe I made a mistake. He was very good today,” stated Dobson after the match.
“Wandi is going to be special. What you can all forget about, like Joseph Dweba’s lineout throwing, don’t worry about Wandisile’s defence. He understands our system completely.”
Selection headache
With Ulster subsequent up for the Stormers this weekend, Dobson now has a little bit of a variety headache as fullback Warrick Gelant is predicted to return from damage, whereas wing Ben Loader is again to full health and prepared for a start.
Suleiman Hartzenberg, who scored a hattrick on the correct wing against Edinburgh, has performed commonly at exterior centre, whereas man-of-the-match Damian Willemse may additionally shift into the midfield if Gelant slots again in at fullback, so will probably be attention-grabbing to see who makes the minimize.
“You almost want two of them to get injured, so you don’t go through that,” Dobson stated jokingly.
“It’s very tricky. Wandi was great and you have to keep Suleiman in the team. We are thrilled with Ben Loader and Warrick is coming back. It’s tomorrow’s problem.”
Quality assault
The Stormers have been pleased to get again to their attacking greatest, after their heavy loss against the Bulls on the start of the month, as they outscored Edinburgh seven tries to 3, however Dobson claimed that they nonetheless weren’t ruthless sufficient as they left plenty of scoring alternatives on the market.
“It felt like a bit of our spark was back. It felt like that a lot more today, the way we want to play and our intensity, which is what Salmaan (Moerat, Stormers captain) asked from the team before the game,” stated Dobson.
“What’s frustrating is how many tries we left out, after two weeks ago in Pretoria. It was probably double that today. But that’s not a technical thing. It’s not like something is wrong with our shape. I would rather have this than not being able to create those opportunities.”
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