How young Wolhuter’s absence affects Stormers

SATURDAY afternoon wasn’t a good one for the Stormers, and even less so for flyhalf Kade Wolhuter.

The 19-year-old suffered a knee injury (torn ACL) in the Stormers’ 33-30 defeat to the Sharks in their opening Rainbow Cup SA match at Cape Town Stadium and had to be stretchered off the field.

As he shared on social media, the injury has ruled him out for the remainder of the season.

Wolhuter has steadily settled into the Stormers group since joining the squad after returning from a stint with French giants Montpellier.

Much anticipation has, of course, come with his inclusion in the Stormers squad, and it’s only natural given the issues the union have experienced at flyhalf in recent years, so it’s not surprising that a talent like Wolhuter would be considered a possible answer to the problem that is No 10.

He is also clearly in the national plans – having played in the Green v Gold Springbok showdown last year – while Stormers coach John Dobson has also made it clear that Wolhuter and other youngsters would be developed during the Preparation Series and the Rainbow Cup.

Injuries are never favourable, but all of that gives his setback – suffered in the very first game of the competition – an even more sour taste.

When he left the field, he was replaced by Abner van Reenen, another player who, despite being a few years older than Wolhuter, is also still in need of experience at this level.

Van Reenen has only started in one game for the Stormers – in their final preparation game against the Lions at Cape Town Stadium – and it was a performance so outstanding that fans couldn’t help but get excited over the healthy stocks the Cape side suddenly had in their flyhalf pantry.

He delivered arguably one of the most complete performances by a flyhalf on debut in recent years (and there have been many names in the last seven years, like Kurt Coleman, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Robert du Preez, Damian Willemse, Brandon Thomson, Joshua Stander and Tim Swiel).

Sure, it was just one game, and you can’t exactly start envisioning him as a Stormers legend after one performance, regardless of how good it was.

But it was a flash card of his abilities, and it’s exciting to think of what he can do with more time to build his game against proper opposition.

In the absence of Wolhuter, Van Reenen can be expected to get more starting opportunities, but Dobson may also opt to give Willemse the occasional run in the position he started off in.

Or, once Swiel is back from injury, Dobson could go a different route and alternate Swiel with Van Reenen, or use the latter as back-up for Swiel with the occasional start.

Which ever way it goes, if Willemse’s future is at No 15, it would make sense for Van Reenen to get the nod against the Bulls on Saturday and in the games that follow.

After all, seeing as Wolhuter is out, there is no better time than now to let Van Reenen gain more experience.