The Stormers are reeling from a major blow to their lock resources, a situation exacerbated by injuries and imminent player exits, according to head coach John Dobson. This predicament has stripped the team of its once-enviable depth in the second row, a cornerstone of their early-season success.
Salmaan Moerat, the team's captain heading to La Rochelle, has been out of action with a toe injury since late January. Meanwhile, JD Schickerling faces a six-month recovery after a knee injury incurred during last weekend's clash against Connacht. Dobson lamented,
Dobson expressed concern over the wear and tear on Schickerling and Smith due to prolonged absences of key players like Moerat and Van Heerden. He revealed strategic personnel management, particularly regarding young Connor Evans, who will play a U23 game to regain full fitness rather than taking a shorter stint off the bench.
"We have to really develop Connor quickly now."
Dobson added, noting the urgency of preparing for the upcoming Ulster game.
The depleted lock stocks have also forced a rethink of the team's bench strategy, impacting their ability to maintain a 6-2 split, which had been effective earlier in the season. "It really worked so well for us at the start of the season when we had five locks and Connor," Dobson explained. However, with the current roster, maintaining that setup has become challenging, particularly highlighted in games against Munster and Bayonne where the bench's depth proved pivotal.
Dobson remains hopeful, with Moerat's return anticipated at least by the quarter-finals, possibly in time for the Cardiff game on May 15. Despite the setbacks, the Stormers are adapting, driven by necessity and the resilience that the sport demands.
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The Stormers are reeling from a major blow to their lock resources, a situation exacerbated by injuries and imminent player exits, according to head coach John Dobson. This predicament has stripped the team of its once-enviable depth in the second row, a cornerstone of their early-season success.
Salmaan Moerat, the team's captain heading to La Rochelle, has been out of action with a toe injury since late January. Meanwhile, JD Schickerling faces a six-month recovery after a knee injury incurred during last weekend's clash against Connacht. Dobson lamented,
"Losing JD, who is a big guy for us, is massive."
The Stormers' lineup for Saturday's game against the Glasgow Warriors at Cape Town Stadium will see Montpellier-bound Ruben van Heerden, freshly returned from injury, teaming up with the steadfast Adré Smith. The bench will feature Marcel Theunissen and utility forward Keke Morabe, with Dobson highlighting Theunissen’s capability in calling lineouts and Morabe's impact potential in the game's later stages.
Dobson expressed concern over the wear and tear on Schickerling and Smith due to prolonged absences of key players like Moerat and Van Heerden. He revealed strategic personnel management, particularly regarding young Connor Evans, who will play a U23 game to regain full fitness rather than taking a shorter stint off the bench.
"We have to really develop Connor quickly now."
Dobson added, noting the urgency of preparing for the upcoming Ulster game.The depleted lock stocks have also forced a rethink of the team's bench strategy, impacting their ability to maintain a 6-2 split, which had been effective earlier in the season. "It really worked so well for us at the start of the season when we had five locks and Connor," Dobson explained. However, with the current roster, maintaining that setup has become challenging, particularly highlighted in games against Munster and Bayonne where the bench's depth proved pivotal.
Dobson remains hopeful, with Moerat's return anticipated at least by the quarter-finals, possibly in time for the Cardiff game on May 15. Despite the setbacks, the Stormers are adapting, driven by necessity and the resilience that the sport demands.