Gelant

It's no secret what myself and few others think of Gelant. I've long been calling him a microcosm of the Stormer's problems. For me, he is a perfect representation of what is wrong with them.

Yes, I'd long ago have sold him for ANY amount to anybody that was interested.

But here's what really annoys me;

Jurie Matthee has been in good form. Paks rightly has a crush on him. Sacha hasn't been terrible but he has been a relative distance off of his best.

What does Dobbo do?

Well he benches his best backline player in Sacha, starts Jurie and continues to mess Willemse around.

What was the result?

Gelant couldn't stop making critical errors, Willemse had to try to find a way to make an impact from the wing and then Sacha had to come off the bench to try and turn the game around.

Why this pisses me off to no end is because Willemse was first messed around at 12 by Dobbo who clearly doesn't rate him as a 12 any longer. Then, instead of starting Willemse where he is one of the best in the world, he keeps picking Gelant there. Then yesterday, when he wants to give Jurie a start, he bloody benches Sacha who is a better 15 than Gelant even with his eyes closed.

This bloody moron that the Stormers call a coach is messing around two of the best back line players in the world, simply to include a guy that is clearly not even franchise standard, has no pace, no urgency, can barely kick a ball and makes strings of critical errors in every single game.

The Stormers got beaten by one of the worst teams in T14. Despite having world class players in Reinach, Sacha and Willemse, Toulon played simple rugby and sent the Stompies packing.

I hope they sack Dobbo and that he takes that bloody Gelant with him to Tonga or wherever his next coaching gig is.

There suddenly seems to be an absence of wingers in the Cape. Zas is anonymous and probably not much faster than Roos, and Hartzenberg, the only other option that's been used at 14 is no great shakes either.

Jurie is no Sacha, but he's solid with a good all round game. He can pass (that missile to put Gelant into space wide was a beaut), he can run, he can kick. Sacha off the bench was very good and the only reason the Stormers even got close - two tries down to him after he came on.

Gelant was decent last week, but a boiling pot of judgement errors again this week, from delaying passes for no reason that tanked attacking momentum to conceding a stupid penalty and booting the ball out on the full. He'll keep featuring, Dobbo rates him, and he'll keep producing a few decent moments every 5 games to keep the myth going.

In the end, SA sides and their coaches need to look at what they do in the red zone and get a better plan than bashing away in the hope of something giving. Look at Glasgow's try in the 56th minute against the Bulls, how they kept shifting the attack away from the congested defense in the middle and ended up sending a two man team of forwards into Jooste to create the try scoring momentum.

The Stormers, two men up, just kept targeting the strongest point of defense even though they'd been held up over the line a few times in the game already - effectively neutralizing the numerical advantage by seeking the point of parity. Dumb ass rugby and a symptom of our sides' obsession with ignoring the space and seeking the contact. It's like our teams and players (Lions excepted) don't have any confidence in their attacking game, and I put that squarely on the coaches.

Agreed, it's the embarrassment of talent that keeps us competitive, not the coaching.

Willemse is a month away from being 28. He should be well settled in his best position. And he is, except our coaches keep trying him elsewhere. He flopped at 10, will flop on the wing. Putting him there is almost a joke. And he is better in a bit of space, so I don’t see the grind of test 12 suiting him either, although that’s the only viable option..

Why not play a 28 year old, who last year looked one of the best at 15, at 15.

As for Gelant, he seems to be weighed on scales which judge the one good thing he occasionally does as more consequential than the 30 things he screws up. That languid lope across yesterday, when the Toulon chip ahead needed urgency, was a classic example

"That languid lope across yesterday, when the Toulon chip ahead needed urgency, was a classic example"

And how about when Jaco Williams capitalised on Gelant not dotting the ball down a few weeks back?

Anyway, I'm sure he has photos of Dobbo doing some untoward stuff at a party or something. That's the only way I can explain his continued selection.

Edit: haha my typos are the best

DOB-ou has to go. That last clueless bashing of the Toulon line was sad to see, not consistent with the blue stripes on their jerseys.

And there really is no excuse.

I watched the Leinster v Edinburgh highlights. Yet another game where they score a plethora of tries by using their backs. All our franchises have backs that are least as good, and probably better than what Leinster have. Yet we regularly go entire halves without a single backline move or semi coherently running of the ball through the hands.

What gets me is that one knows that these guys practice backline moves constantly in training, but then somehow we just never see it on the field.

Fair comment by the oaks. Gelant makes too may errors.

Willemse needs to settle down at 15.

Bye the way I do hope some of the mampara oaks are realizing how fortunate we are to have Rassie. Towers above any other SA coach.

I do however think the Bulls and Lions coaching staff are doing reasonably well.

Refs gave SA teams quite a hard time this week?

There were two decisions in the Stormers game that were strange.

When the Stompers mauled towards the line and then got a penalty awarded for Toulon collapsing in the maul...that is a penalty try and yellow card. Instead it was only a penalty. Somebody needs to explain that to me.

And then the decision in overtime where the Stompers go over and the ref instantly calls held up and says "hands under the ball". I'm not sure how he makes this call when he is on the other side of the ruck. Seems strange, in the absence of any evidence, to automatically give the benefit of the doubt to the defending team. Why can the ref not simply say "i didn't have a clear view at all."?

The first one above is just a bad call but the second one is more a point for discussion. To my mind, when nobody has a clear view, I don't see why the defending team has to get the benefit of the doubt. In those instances, my view is that the outcome needs to be decided on a balance of probability. Also, for heaven's sake, can we see multiple angles at the same time...this is 2026 after all.

I have to agree about Gelant, Journo rave about him for some reason but I was on a whatsApp chat with my mates about the game and we were all shouting about how shit Gelant is over several weekends now. Ever since he went to France he never came back the same player.

The other problem Dobbo has is Cape Coloured rugby players mentality. They are very gifted and elusive runners, but you don't see them actually construct much, they take their chances. I don't see how them exploiting the wide channels with clever passes, quick hands and getting into space, it is rather, let me try something fancy, a grubber, a dummy pass, a side step and let me try to get around the player and only pass when they get tackled. The best defence against these players is just to squeeze their space, don't run at them. So many times the run themselves out over the side line.

There is a reason why Dobbo always default to Du Preez, Nel and now Matthee. These guys are following the coaches instructions, know how to defend and actually use tactics. It looks great when it is a run a palooza rugby on a dry hot field when other teams are puffing but not up north.

To me with all the talents of Sasha, I almost feel that guys like Willemse, Sasha and Gelant are impact players that can exploit the game in the last 20, but today players are fitter and defences are better.

Sascha is not controlling the game with his boot to a sufficiently high standard at te moment. Compare that aspect of his game with Pollard.

He is a fantastic athlete and runner.

This is a very tricky time for Rassie.

I can't stick Gelant in the same category as Willemse and Sacha.

To me, Willemse has excellent balance. He knows how to read when its on and when its not. Ive never felt let down when he has played at 15, not once. Sacha is so naturally talented, quick and influential that it's impossible not to like him. He already has more tries than any other Bok 10 in history. They're easily two of my favourite players.

..but I cant frigging stand Gelant. And to make matters worse, he's slow as hell too. Few players make me cringe like he does. Look at how fat the guy has gotten too. Watching him lose a footrace to the Edinburgh 12 last weekend was a bloody embarrassment.

I've noticed on a good few pods after the weekend's matches people are questioning what the hell Dobbo was thinking not starting Sacha and also starting Willemse on the wing. Glad I'm not the only one that thought that was stupid. If you think about it, his two best backline players, but one isn't involved in the game for 50 minutes and the other is out on the wing begging for chances. How do you take a luxury problem and turn it into an actual problem in a knockout game!!!???

Here is Gelant losing that footrace. Notice how he is actually ahead of Lang at the start of the race but gets totally left in the dust. Also notice how easily Willemse gains ground on Lang.

Timestamp: 1:38

Number of Tackles

95

Missed Tackles

13

Tackle Success %

81

Turnovers Won

1

Turnovers Lost

19

Those are Roos’ numbers on the other side of the ball/. Not great , a below average tackle success number and he has lost the ball 19 times getting only 1 turnover. Paul de Villiers has 11 turnovers to 9 lost balls by contrast.

I may be wrong but I can’t remember Roos ever making a consequential tackle.

Time is passing this guy by and he still isn’t convincing against better packs.

Moz, you're missing a lot...same as PSDT...looking at the wrong stats.

P Divvy can be a straight swap for Kwagga. I don't think he's in Kwagga's league just yet but he could get there and he plays a very similar game to Kwagga.

I worry for Roos. The guy has so many good attributes but he's just playing the wrong kind of game.

Was watching Cam's return over the last two weeks. He plays to all his strengths so well.

look at these measurements...

Roos - 191cm & 109Kg

Hanekom - 193cm & 110Kg

Cam is ever so lightly bigger than Roos, but you don't see Cam trying to bash and smash. He picks his battles, focuses on speed and looks to get there first rather than kill everyone once he arrives.

I'm not just dissing Roos for the sake of it. I actually do think that he struggles because he has the wrong idea of how he should play.

He's 26 now, and Wiese will be 1st pick until Roos is 28, maybe 29.

So what's the solution for Roos if he wants to be a Bok? Hope that Wiese retires early and also that Cam doesn't play like he was playing before he got injured because, if he does, then he'll be ahead of Roos in the queue.

Also remember that Ruan Venter is there. An actual basher who has showed great linking skill this season. He's been receiving kickoffs, running over people, linking and filling in at 8 when Francke does his usual roaming.

Based on this season, I'd say that both Cam and Roos are behind Venter in the queue.

And then there's Francke who is playing some of the best rugby of his life and probably the best of any 8 in SA right now...and a very good skipper. I know you guys don't watch the Lions games, so perhaps check in with Chippo and see if he agrees with me.

So ja, I agree with Moz, Roos needs to pull finger because he's getting older and the competition is getting stiffer.

Roos losing the ball in contact has been a feature of his play that I've picked up on even without the confirmation from stats. I wonder if these guys with the oversized biceps don't have trouble tucking the ball securely.

But on a different note, there's no reason for Roos to be a Bok. I know it's a South African thing to want to shoehorn every semi decent player into the Bok side, but is Roos really needed? Will he contribute in the trenches of test rugby when he still struggles to stand out in the provincial game? And where?

Same with a guy like David Kriel - on Facebook the lamentations about his departure from the Bulls ring loud, Rassie is mentioned, him not getting a Bok callup is mentioned, but where is he going to serve the Boks if he is even good enough (which I don't think he is)?

Agreed, Paks.

If a guy shows signs of perhaps being good enough then maybe he is. But that doesn't happen in a vacuum and signs are only the start, not the final evidence.

For most people, it feels impossible to change their opinion. Once they have said they believe he should be a Bok, they feel like they're betraying themselves if they later change their minds on the basis of new evidence.

Ja, that is awful for a forward to lose the ball in contact, even at school boy rugby, you should never concede the ball. Remember those days when we use to maul a lot, so when you take the ball into contact up right, even the ball went dead, the scrum went to the team that carried the ball into the maul.

But in todays game, players are so well protected, you have to go low, no chop tackles, no high tackles, players have to roll away, can't obstruct the tackled player form placing the ball etc. So much noise around tackled player protection. Then you have the scrummy that just waltzes in and then has ages to fondle the ball WITH HIS FUCKING HANDS and then can just swing the ball away.

Yup, he is trying to be a tough guy and doesn't get why Rassie doesn't want to pick him. He looks great when he breaks the line and scores, could be another Ryan Kankowski, great on the high lites real but shit on the working rate stats that the coaches look at.

Imagining coughing up the ball once or twice in a high stakes games against an AB, French or Irish team. They will tear you to shreds with that type of ball. We did it for years to other teams.

19 times, that is worse than Libbok in contact.

Probably why Wiese is there, makes the hard yards.

I like Cam, he doesn't look that big to be honest, thought he was smaller hence why I didn't pick him as an 8, but he can really motor and have a incredible lean physique but has the weight, power and pace.

Hanekom is damn clever and technically sound. He could lose half his rugby IQ points and still be better reader of the game than most.

Roos - I want to smash this guy so his grandchildren will remember my name.

Cam - How quickly can I get up after this tackle to make the next one?

In case you needed a reason to doubt Dobbo even more.

The guy claims he is moving Sacha around to protect him from keyboard warriors.

Apparently Sacha has been receiving so much flack online that Dobbo had not choice but to bench him hahaha

This level of bullshit is actually annoying.

...and the clown still thinks Sacha can play at 12.

"I just don’t understand the world we live in now,” he said.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu could be moved to No.12 or No.15 in the next few games, but flyhalf is still where he adds most value.

Dobson added that the young playmaker was ‘taken out of the limelight’ to protect him from the many keyboard warriors who feel the need to spout their bile on a “generational player”.

“We have a duty of care towards Sacha,”

Maybe he should stop instructing Sacha to kick every ball, then the flack will drop by 90% overnight.

He's a generation player but in most important game of the season I'm gonna bench him and then claim it's for his own protection.

...and then instead of playing him at 15, I'm gonna start a guy that makes a mistake a second, and who then does make a mistake a second.

And then when I bring Sacha on I'm gonna take off the 10 that has actually had a good game and leave Gelant on field.

Dobbo proceeds with this: “Throwing it wide or going back for a drop goal? That’s a 50-50. It was never part of the plan. So it’s certainly not Sacha’s fault.”

Turns out what they chose to do was 50-50 too, as they had found out a number of times in the same game when they were held up over the line.

People who beat on Sacha for not taking a drop are just stupid though. If you want to protect a player from stupid people, he's never going to play because stupid don't go away. The world is what it is and social media is toxic and even level-headed folk like us here on Ruckers sometimes unfairly criticize players because we're all essentially clueless couch commentators. That is the virtually the entire rugby fanbase.

So what now? You don't play the generational player because of the same fan base he's going to deal with throughout his career if he wants to amount to anything? Great plan, bud.

I think it's just Dobbo making excuses for his obviously terrible match day selections. And that's what annoys me so much.

Basically lying and using Sacha as his scapegoat.

Sacha hasn't been in top form of late, hence the criticism...but out of form Sacha is still better than the in form next on the list and Jurie needs game time too ...the drop was more risky ...I would have backed the Stormers getting over the line too rather than risk the drop... frustrating to lose by one point...but it is what it is.

Pakie is pretty spot on with his comment about Sacha being told to kick everything.

There is a notable shift in how Sacha has been playing. It's so obvious that he's not playing his natural game.

I don't think it has anything to do with form, even though he has dropped a ball or two more than he normally would. I think that being told to play in a way that isn't his natural game is probably was has resulted in the few extra mistakes because it's knocked his confidence a bit.

The problem is Dobbo telling Sacha to play more like a conventional 10. Galant gets picked even though he does the dumbest things constantly, but the more talented player must rein himself in. Sacha must kick mostly and pass the rest of the time...and do less of the solo stuff that causes everyone to call him a generational talent.

Oh, and now there is an article where Dobbo is apparently saying that Willemse on the wing was more a necessity thing but that he knows Willemse needs to be more involved. Excuses.

As i said previously, Dobbo has managed to take a luxury problem and turn it into an actual problem. That takes some doing.

Sacha had a brilliant year for the Boks. The type of year that had us calling him an alien and everybody around the world green with envy. But the genius Stormers coach just cant seem to get him firing. It's clear where the problem is. His tries against France and Ireland last year tell you who Sacha is and how to use him. If you can't take take the fastest car with the best breaks and suspension and win the race, the problem isn't the car.

The only player in recent memory who has Sacha’s intuition for the game is Du Pont. But he hasn’t been the same player since that WC injury in my view. Same thing happened to Skinstad after his knee. What Sacha did in 2025 was exceptional and the Boks let him do it, which I suppose could be our NZers one big contribution.

Periodically when my aim is off, spellcheck gives me Dacha, it’s preferred choice….that’s the Dobson version of Sacha….Dacha a player, who seldom stirs from the coach’s foundational beliefs.

At least it puts one thing to rest, that he can’t execute a plan…he has, a bad one..

The Stormers will probably make the playoffs if the URC.

So I guess we can expect Galant to start at Hooker, Willemse to carry water and Sacha will probably not make the game and instead be relegated to a boxing gym because Dobbo wants him to be able to take mean tweets on the chin.

The man has a long term vision, let's not doubt him.