In the gritty world of rugby, where spotlight often graces the usual suspects, Stormers' Marcel Theunissen has been the understated force behind the scenes. Finally getting his due after a stellar performance in the Stormers' 32-19 victory over the Vodacom Bulls, coach John Dobson admits they've been sleeping on Theunissen's relentless contributions.
Filling in for the injured Evan Roos, Theunissen didn't just step up; he soared, particularly excelling in the lineouts and making his presence ubiquitous across the field, significantly stymieing the Bulls at Loftus. His airborne acrobatics and omnipresence on the field were instrumental in what Dobson described as one of the Stormers' most dominant displays this season.
"As coaches, sometimes you brand players. When Evan Roos gets a hit, I want to send him to the compression chamber in Simon’s Town or fly him to Nasa to get fit. Sometimes we coaches get seduced, that we forget about this bloke."
Dobson's frank admission highlights a common oversight in sports - the glamorization of certain stars while the consistent grinders like Theunissen often go unnoticed. This no. 8 is the epitome of reliability, never missing a training session, snatching lineouts from the air, and being a breakdown beast. The coach's newfound appreciation for Theunissen's efforts was palpable as he expressed a need for a shift in recognition within the team.
"One thing about Marcel – he’s always there. He never misses a training session, he gets three lineouts tapped out of the air and he gets to every breakdown. I think we need to be better at showing him more love and respect and he put in a giant performance. We’re guilty of not appreciating what we have in a bloke like that."
It's a wake-up call for everyone, from fans to pundits, to acknowledge the workhorses who fuel the team's engine. As the Stormers prepare for their upcoming fixtures, the spotlight might just have turned to shine on one of its most deserving, yet previously unsung heroes, Marcel Theunissen.
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In the gritty world of rugby, where spotlight often graces the usual suspects, Stormers' Marcel Theunissen has been the understated force behind the scenes. Finally getting his due after a stellar performance in the Stormers' 32-19 victory over the Vodacom Bulls, coach John Dobson admits they've been sleeping on Theunissen's relentless contributions.
Filling in for the injured Evan Roos, Theunissen didn't just step up; he soared, particularly excelling in the lineouts and making his presence ubiquitous across the field, significantly stymieing the Bulls at Loftus. His airborne acrobatics and omnipresence on the field were instrumental in what Dobson described as one of the Stormers' most dominant displays this season.
"As coaches, sometimes you brand players. When Evan Roos gets a hit, I want to send him to the compression chamber in Simon’s Town or fly him to Nasa to get fit. Sometimes we coaches get seduced, that we forget about this bloke."
Dobson's frank admission highlights a common oversight in sports - the glamorization of certain stars while the consistent grinders like Theunissen often go unnoticed. This no. 8 is the epitome of reliability, never missing a training session, snatching lineouts from the air, and being a breakdown beast. The coach's newfound appreciation for Theunissen's efforts was palpable as he expressed a need for a shift in recognition within the team.
"One thing about Marcel – he’s always there. He never misses a training session, he gets three lineouts tapped out of the air and he gets to every breakdown. I think we need to be better at showing him more love and respect and he put in a giant performance. We’re guilty of not appreciating what we have in a bloke like that."
It's a wake-up call for everyone, from fans to pundits, to acknowledge the workhorses who fuel the team's engine. As the Stormers prepare for their upcoming fixtures, the spotlight might just have turned to shine on one of its most deserving, yet previously unsung heroes, Marcel Theunissen.