Kolbe's injury occurred just last week, setting him back for eight weeks. This injury means he'll miss crucial early matches including the team's URC kickoff in Galway against Connacht on 25 September, followed by a game against Edinburgh.
"He's out for eight weeks. He would have played that whole October run, the four games. That was a hell of a blow,"
The Stormers faced the Bulls in a pre-season match in Paarl, ending with a 38-26 loss. Despite the defeat and the challenges posed by player injuries and rotations, Dobson found positives, especially in the second half's performance.
"I’m super happy, given the amount of guys that we optionally pulled out of this game – 17 out of that 31 have never played a URC game. At the start of the second half, we were outstanding. But I knew by the end, once we’d mixed up the pack, we’d lose shape towards the end," Dobson expressed his strategy and its outcomes.
In terms of player availability, Dobson confirmed the return of key Springboks including Damian Willemse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Wilco Louw, and Siya Kolisi for the upcoming games. However, they might not join the squad for the Edinburgh game due to recovery from their game against the Wallabies.
"When we get back from the tour, they’re all available. Well, they’re available theoretically for the Edinburgh game but you’re not going to fly guys out, after what they’ve been through,"
The decision against a second warm-up game was made to avoid further injuries, as the squad already feels stretched particularly in certain positions. "The locks are a concern. The back three is a concern depth-wise until the Springboks come back," Dobson noted the current team vulnerabilities.
Despite the setbacks, Dobson remains upbeat about the Stormers' form and resilience. "That we stayed competitive and didn’t get an injury makes it a really good outcome for us. I think it was a nice experience," he reflected on the recent match and the path ahead.
It appears the Stormers will adapt their gameplay moving forward, opting for a more direct approach compared to their pre-season tactics. Dobson clarified, "We’re not going to play like this against Connacht. We were pulling everything, tipping every ball. It’s going to be more direct." This shift aims to refine their strategy based on the lessons learned from the pre-season and past encounters.
The focus for the Stormers is clear as they look to navigate through early challenges with a mix of veteran insights and fresh talent, all while keeping their eyes on the larger season goals ahead.
