The Stormers could rest Springbok captain Siya Kolisi for their United Rugby Championship (URC) match against the Scarlets in Cape Town on Saturday. Kolisi has played three games in a row since he rejoined the Cape side.
The Stormers return to URC action after a 49-12 win over Bristol Bears in the Champions Cup last weekend. They host the Scarlets at DHL Stadium, with kick-off set for 4pm.
“I think what’s important is that we stick to the critical path. In all four games, we selected our teams and stuck with our plans,” director of rugby John Dobson said.
According to IOL Sport, Dobson hinted that some Springboks could take a break for the Scarlets game. This is part of the team’s rest plan for national players.
Dobson has spoken often about a “critical plan” for the season. It sets out when players will play and when they will rest. It also decides how many games in a row the Boks can be picked for.
The coach still has to decide whether Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will also sit out. Willemse should be the easier one to replace at fullback. The Stormers are thinner at flyhalf.
“At some stage, Sacha is going to need a break. Otherwise, we’re going to destroy him, given the Nations Championship and everything he’s been through this season,” Dobson said.
He said Feinberg-Mngomezulu had played about 520 minutes before he returned to the Stormers. He has since put in two strong performances for the Cape side. Dobson said the same probably applied to Willemse.
“We know we’ve got a big month ahead of us. We’ve got to give Wandi Simelane another run in the next two games, no question,” Dobson said.
The Stormers are also worried about the fitness of captain Ruhan Nel, who has a calf strain. If Nel misses a second week in a row, Simelane should be ready to play at outside centre.
Dobson said the team would not panic about players being unavailable from week to week. “We’ve got a plan, and we’ll stick to it,” he said.
If he does make changes for the Scarlets, Dobson is expected to keep them few. Too many changes could hurt the teamwork the side has built over the last few weeks. The Welsh team is expected to put up a strong fight.
The Stormers have won all seven of their past games against the Scarlets. They are fourth on the URC log, and another bonus-point win would help keep them near the top.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.