John Dobson has provided an update on Manie Libbok’s return, as the Stormers gear up for Friday’s clash against Ulster without the injured Salmaan Moerat and Warrick Gelant.
Speaking in a teleconference from Belfast on Thursday, Dobson clarified the status of Springboks Moerat and Gelant, who were listed as rested in a Stormers team announcement for the round 14 Vodacom URC match at Kingspan Stadium.
“Salmaan is injured, Warrick’s injured,” the director of rugby told reporters. “Salmaan has an injury to his foot but luckily not too serious. He’s done a partial strain. If he had torn it, it would be a very long injury.
“There’s not a lot of certainty around that injury. At this stage, they boot him and take him out, and then it becomes functional. There is a chance it could become worse.
“Warrick has tweaked his knee. Those changes were enforced,” he added. “Warrick has been absolutely brilliant for us this season, doing the tough tasks as well as the aesthetic ones. Given what the conditions look like tomorrow, Damian [Willemse] is a great option at 15. Hopefully we won’t miss Warrick too much.”
Forecasts indicate the match will be played in a moderate breeze and a temperature of 5 degrees Celsius.
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With Moerat absent, Connor Evans gets a rare start in the second row, while Willemse slots in at fullback.
“Last week [against Scarlets] Salmaan was fantastic with his carries, and he moves bodies and sometimes you don’t see that. He writes big cheques out there,” he said. “Connor is very similar … underexposed rather than an underrated forward.
“A physical player very much in the Salmaan style, with a high work rate and a guy we think has a massive future.
“We’ll miss Salmaan terribly but bringing Connor through, he’ll be a Stormer for years to come and even higher than that. We just haven’t given him enough opportunity through injury and this amazing lock roster, which now looks a lot thinner.
“I was worried about opportunities so we’ve been forced into one now and it’s going to be a good one for Connor.”
Dobson expects Moerat and Gelant to be fit for the Stormers’ home clash against Connacht on 19 April. He also hinted at the return of Libbok, who has been out since January with a knee injury, though the Bok flyhalf may only be back for the final league match against Cardiff.
“I think Seabelo [Senatla] is also Connacht and Manie … if Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu] keeps going I think we’ll keep Manie on ice but we could push him into action against Benetton,” Dobson said.
“We’ll probably look at him for Cardiff but he could play earlier if we need him, that’s where we are with him.”
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Dobson has opted for Dave Ewers at openside flank in place of Deon Fourie, ruled out due to HIA protocols, and he believes the experience of the 34-year-old Zimbabwean – he played 16 games for Ulster between 2023 and 2024 – will be vital.
“He knows Ulster and I’m sure he’s got a point to prove tomorrow. He’s also a great professional and very physical, and on these 4G pitches these games are a lot about momentum and that’s what he brings.
“We always knew when we got Dave it was a good deal for us, and he was targeted with playing northern hemisphere, grim, tough conditions sort of games, and his experience here.
“He was never going to be a Highveld antelope, that’s why he missed those Ellis Park and Loftus games, but he’s going to be a big player for us tomorrow.”
Ulster are one point and a spot behind the eighth-placed Stormers on the standings. Addressing the challenge on Friday, Dobson said: “They’re definitely desperate, and a desperate team in a tough venue is always dangerous. Friday nights are not the ideal time to be at Kingspan in those conditions expected.
“It’s a very different game to the Highveld, with lots of space and there’s no wind. Now you’ve got conditions that could make it a bit of a lottery. I’m actually surprised they haven’t done better this season but they’re not bad – they’re one point away from us!
“It’s a tough ask for us … it’s a big pack with the same backline we’ve been playing against all these years, so tough game.”
Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
