Stormers' head honcho, John Dobson, dropped the latest on Frans Malherbe's rocky road to recovery. The powerhouse Springboks tighthead prop has been out of the game since last April, grappling with a back injury serious enough to sideline him for the entire 2025 season. Just as hopes were rising for Malherbe's return, a new hiccup in his hip has emerged, clouding his comeback timeline even further.
"Frans reminded me very directly this week he’s doing rehab every day, which he is," Dobson conveyed to the press, detailing the veteran's current regimen. "He’s made a lot of progress with the neck and the back, but he’s actually just got another setback with his hip. They’re not sure if it’s related." Despite the complications, Malherbe is sprinting at full tilt, though not yet ready to scrum, leaving his exact return date up in the air.
"He’s not changing direction yet, but he’s running at full speed and that’s normally a month or two. But he’s rehabbing properly. It’s all about the nerve and the pain. He’s not scrumming yet, so he’s not certain. But from the running and his general shape, he’s looking good."
In Malherbe's absence, Zachary Porthen and Neethling Fouche have stepped up. Fouche, who had a rough last match against Leicester Tigers, is set to start again as the Stormers prepare to face the Sharks in a pivotal United Rugby Championship clash. "Neetas had a very tough day at the office last week," admitted Dobson. The focus for the upcoming game will be to assert dominance early, aiming to influence the referee's perspective positively.
As the URC season progresses with the Stormers still unbeaten, Dobson's selection reflects the intense nature of the upcoming fixtures, especially the local derbies. "We’ve got four really big SA derbies, and we want to go for the shield, just tick that and say ‘Yes, we are the best team in South Africa,'" Dobson explained. He emphasized the importance of fielding the best lineup against formidable opponents like the Sharks, contrasting it with potentially lighter matches where rotation could be more feasible.
This weekend, the Stormers line up with Fouche starting and Sazi Sandi ready off the bench, as they aim to further their claim as South Africa's top rugby team in a season marked by bruising encounters and high stakes.
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Stormers' head honcho, John Dobson, dropped the latest on Frans Malherbe's rocky road to recovery. The powerhouse Springboks tighthead prop has been out of the game since last April, grappling with a back injury serious enough to sideline him for the entire 2025 season. Just as hopes were rising for Malherbe's return, a new hiccup in his hip has emerged, clouding his comeback timeline even further.
"Frans reminded me very directly this week he’s doing rehab every day, which he is," Dobson conveyed to the press, detailing the veteran's current regimen. "He’s made a lot of progress with the neck and the back, but he’s actually just got another setback with his hip. They’re not sure if it’s related." Despite the complications, Malherbe is sprinting at full tilt, though not yet ready to scrum, leaving his exact return date up in the air.
"He’s not changing direction yet, but he’s running at full speed and that’s normally a month or two. But he’s rehabbing properly. It’s all about the nerve and the pain. He’s not scrumming yet, so he’s not certain. But from the running and his general shape, he’s looking good."
In Malherbe's absence, Zachary Porthen and Neethling Fouche have stepped up. Fouche, who had a rough last match against Leicester Tigers, is set to start again as the Stormers prepare to face the Sharks in a pivotal United Rugby Championship clash. "Neetas had a very tough day at the office last week," admitted Dobson. The focus for the upcoming game will be to assert dominance early, aiming to influence the referee's perspective positively.
As the URC season progresses with the Stormers still unbeaten, Dobson's selection reflects the intense nature of the upcoming fixtures, especially the local derbies. "We’ve got four really big SA derbies, and we want to go for the shield, just tick that and say ‘Yes, we are the best team in South Africa,'" Dobson explained. He emphasized the importance of fielding the best lineup against formidable opponents like the Sharks, contrasting it with potentially lighter matches where rotation could be more feasible.
This weekend, the Stormers line up with Fouche starting and Sazi Sandi ready off the bench, as they aim to further their claim as South Africa's top rugby team in a season marked by bruising encounters and high stakes.