Have the Stormers got their latest bargain in the form of a forgotten Springboks prodigy?

Dylan Coetzee
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Wandisile Simelane looks on during his time with the Bulls.

Wandisile Simelane looks on during his time with the Bulls.

The Stormers may have found a bargain in an interesting switch that sees forgotten star Wandisile Simelane head to Cape Town from the Bulls.

The deal involving the former Lions man is a player switch that sees promising backline star Cornel Smit head to Loftus Versfeld as the Stormers look to fill the void left by veteran Ruhan Nel’s season-ending injury.

Electric youth career

Simelane had a promising youth career as an electric outside centre who loved to attack wherever possible and quickly shot through the ranks at the Lions whilst also representing South Africa at age group levels with Stormers duo Damian Willemse and Manie Libbok.

His form for the Lions was solid for the most part as he settled into the starting berth where he notched up over 60 appearances in all competitions before the Bulls came calling in 2022.

Bulls director of rugby Jake White felt Simelane could benefit from versatility and tried his hand at playing him as an outside back which ultimately saw the star fall down the pecking order and out of the selection picture.

To the diamond polisher

Now the star has been thrown a lifeline by the Stormers boss John Dobson who, not for the first time, is looking to polish a rough diamond. The Capetonian tactician is a master at it with several examples in the current side.

Take Libbok as an example of a player who loves to attack and did not gel with either the Bulls or Sharks before heading to the Cape where he arrived as a forgotten entity. Dobson opted to throw complete backing behind the fly-half who quickly found his feet with the Stormers. Fast track two seasons and Libbok is a Rugby World Cup winner who is indispensable to the Stormers.

There are other examples, Hacjivah Dayimani shone at the Lions but blossomed into a completely different player at the Stormers whether he has seven or eight on his back. Leolin Zas went to the Sharks but did not fit and came back to the Stormers and finished the inaugural United Rugby Championship season as the top scorer, powering the side to their maiden title.

All these case studies bode well for Simelane, who for years was touted by many as an inevitable Springbok. At only 25 years old, there is still plenty of time for the talented back, who will no doubt love being back in his 13 jersey. It was where he made his name and brought him to the brink of a South Africa debut when he was selected in the wider squad in 2021.

With absolute respect to Nel, who has been a rock and an integral player for the Stormers over the last couple of seasons, if Dobson can push Simelane anywhere close to his potential it could take the already potent backline to different heights.

It is a classic case of one door closing and another opening. Only time will tell whether Simelane can go from forgotten Springboks prodigy to superstar in the colours of the Stormers.

READ MORE: How Springbok great Steven Kitshoff is already leaving his mark on Ulster

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