LATEST FROM THE STORMERS CAMP
WHILE there is still a lot of uncertainty around the Rainbow Cup and South Africa’s part in the competition, one thing’s for sure – it is an opportunity for players to continue building their rugby repertoire.
Despite the talks, SA Rugby president Mark Alexander earlier this week told Independent Media that the Rainbow Cup has not been cancelled and that South Africa are exploring every possible option to ensure the tournament happens.
There have some reports stating that the quadrennial showpiece was set to be called off as the local teams wouldn’t be able to operate out of a bio-bubble in the UK.
But SA still have hopes to partake in the competition, and if it happens, it’s another opportunity for those who showed some promise during the Preparation Series to show that they can shine on a different platform as well.
One of those players is Stormers flyhalf Abner van Reenen.
In their 44-12 demolition of the Lions in their final game of the series, the 24-year-old produced a near complete performance in his debut start as he scored 19 points, but it’s everything else he did that made it so special.
Over the last two years, the No 10 position has been a problematic one for Western Province and the Stormers. But Van Reenen’s performance at Cape Town Stadium was enough to instil just a bit of hope that the Stormers' troubled days in the general’s seat just might be numbered.
Let’s be clear – in terms of talent, there is no shortage of guys to pull on the 10 jumper.
Damian Willemse, touted as the ‘future of the union’ by John Dobson when he started out at flyhalf, can create the kind of magic that would make an illusionist jealous, but his issues with game management over the last few months have seen him shifted to fullback, a move he appears to be relishing.
Tim Swiel, who sat out the last rounds of the series due to injury, offered the Stormers a ‘reliable’ touch, but with him, too, there were still questions to be asked.
The 19-year-old Kade Wolhuter is no doubt one to watch and has shown some encouraging signs, and while he hasn’t run out enough to justifiably pull out the scorecards, there is still much room for improvement … which is only natural for a teen.
Van Reenen, though, in one game produced an outing that many flyhalves only mature to after a string of appearances. Granted, it was one game, he played with Herschel Jantjies as his scrumhalf and a Springbok front-row, so you can’t exactly knight him as the Stormers’ first-choice pivot, that would be premature.
But that is exactly why the Rainbow Cup is such a massive opportunity for someone like him, someone who was absolutely convincing on attack, produced superb kicks from hand and nailed the uprights, and showed overall control in the driver’s seat … all of that makes another chance to prove himself something to look forward to, be it the Rainbow Cup or not.