Stormers oversupply ‘problem’ when Springboks don’t play as John Dobson insists ‘We need all four, I’ve got zero doubt’
Zachary Porthen and an inset of Stormers boss John Dobson.
John Dobson has hailed the work of Stormers legend Brok Harris in building the Cape Town’s side front row depth and previews the tricky player management next season.
Dobson is currently preparing his side for the United Rugby Championship quarter-final against Cardiff on Saturday in the Mother City but cast his eye to next season when his propping stocks will be boosted further by arguably the best tighthead prop in the game, Wilco Louw.
The Springboks number three is returning to his old stomping ground after successful stints at Harlequins and the Bulls but in doing so leaves the Stormers with a bit of a selection conundrum of the best kind.
For this weekend’s clash, Dobson has named two Springboks tightheads in his matchday 23 in Neethling Fouché and Zachary Porthen – who both debuted at Test level last year – but has overlooked the consistent performer and Test hopeful Sazi Sandi. This while, one of the Boks’ greatest number threes, Frans Malherbe, has been sidelined all season.
Stormers’ oversupply issue next season
The Stormers are similarly well stocked on the loosehead side of the scrum, a luxury that Dobson understands is incredibly rare in the United Rugby Championship.
“The work Brok Harris has done with the front row culture is fantastic. When it comes to selection, I’ll say, ‘Brocky, who do you want?'” Dobson told reporters ahead of the quarter-final.
“At loosehead, Oli Kebble and Ali Vermaak are injured; Olly Reid is with the U20s, he is going to be exceptional, and we are still going out with Vernon Matongo and Ntuthuko Mchunu.
“Then at tighthead it is just crazy with Frans Malherbe injured, Wilco Louw is obviously not here yet, and Sazi Sandi is not playing; then we still rate Herman Lubbe very highly, and there is still Hencus van Wyk.
“I don’t think teams in the URC have got a second or third front row like that, so it is very important to us. The tighthead problem, it is a problem in terms of the oversupply.”
Managing player minutes
Dobson is wary that the game-time management at tighthead prop will become an issue next season, particularly if Fouche moves up the pecking order with Asenathi Ntlabakanye now banned.
“Zach is a Springbok, so is Frans Malherbe/Wilco, because in our minds largely the same player because certain Springboks are world leaders. So, when Frans goes, so will his replacement Wilco. Then Neethling Fouche is a Springbok, and with Asenathi getting banned, I don’t know where they rate the other Springbok tightheads at the moment, but Neethling could be [next],” he continued.
“We start next season, we go away to Connacht and Edinburgh go to the Sharks, I think we worked out that it’s eight or nine games without our Springboks so Sazi Sandi becomes gold, but we can’t say to Sazi listen you’re not going to play now and then knock on your door and say you’re super important to us because he’s also got a mission to be a Springbok. It’s going to be very, very tricky management when the Springboks aren’t playing.
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“I want Neethling to be a Springbok and play 40 Tests but let us say he is not; that’s what gave us a good start to the season: it was that tight five when you had Adre Smith and JD Schickerling coming off the bench with Neethling and Sazi.
“I’ve got to keep them all but how we get there it’s going to be easier said than done because let’s say they all fit and you go Wilco and Neethling, Zach and Sazi are ambitious and Sazi promised his dad that he is going to be a Springbok – he’s not if he’s not playing for the Stormers so it’s going to be very tricky but we need all four. I’ve got zero doubt because that’s our game model now; it is clear.”
Retaining scrum dominance
The Stormers boss believes that they have addressed issues in their game this season, particularly in their aerial and transition game, a reason they recruited Cheslin Kolbe too. However, he adds that they have to retain their set-piece prowess and can’t let star players go.
“I think our transition game hasn’t been as good as it can be, as teams have shortened their kicks. We worked very hard on changing that on the contestable,” Dobson added. “I think we’re getting there. But also, we lacked a bit of strike power on the wings with Seabelo [Senatla] being out for so long; we had Wandi [Simelani] play a lot on the wing, and we had Dylan [Maart] from the Griquas.
“But it’s the set-piece; we got the best scrum penalty differential in the URC and that we don’t tamper with. I think we’ll lose some of our ability to put the opposition under pressure to exit if we don’t have that attacking scrum. So, but it’s going to be a challenge.”
