Wolhuter to show ‘Manie traits’ for Stormers?
THE Stormers are up against it without their Springboks against an experienced Scarlets outfit, but coach John Dobson has urged his young group to “surprise and delight” their fans at Cape Town Stadium tonight (7pm kick-off).
Even though Wales are playing Australia tomorrow, the Scarlets were still able to pick a team with seasoned internationals such as centre and captain Jonathan Davies, scrumhalf Gareth Davies and former Tongan loose forward Sione Kalamafoni.
Dobson remarked yesterday that the Llanelli outfit had nearly 300 Test caps in their match-23 compared to about 24 in his squad, courtesy of hooker Joseph Dweba and scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies.
They are missing their heavyweight Springboks – as well as classy youngster Sacha FeinbergMngomezulu, who will be out of action until January with a shin injury – but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have any hope of toppling a streetwise Scarlets side tonight.
One newcomer is former UCT lock Gary Porter, who will be on his URC debut at the age of 26, but who Dobson said reminded him of former captain Chris van Zyl as a “late bloomer … he could have 100 Stormers caps by 33”.
But someone who many Stormers fans will be excited to see back in action is 21-year-old flyhalf Kade Wolhuter, who is making his way back to top-flight rugby after a serious knee ligament injury that kept him for about a year.
He will have big boots to fill in the No 10 jersey in the absence of Springboks Manie Libbok and Damian Willemse, but was a junior star who has all the skills to spearhead the Stormers attack tonight.
“It was a big injury, and coming back to play for the Stormers on this field is a big moment for him. It was a much more traumatic injury that people realise … You need a bit of confidence, and hopefully tomorrow, this is his first step,” Dobson said.
“He’s going to take a bit of time to reach his potential, because his potential is very high. But there is no better place to do that than on the field, and I am excited to see it.
“One thing we got right last year is absolutely clarity on our game model, and knowing exactly our position and what we want.
“There is a difference between Manie and Kade, and that is part of the coaching journey we are on with Kade.
“Kade is a very traditional South African flyhalf. Manie is not quite Warrick (Gelant), but we are not always sure what’s coming out – he is a different-style flyhalf.
“We want Kade to flatten out a bit on his attack, get his Manie traits… And that’s not going to happen instantly.
“But we’ve got a plan tomorrow that allows Kade to start that transition. We can’t go back to a flyhalf who was 10 yards back in the pocket – that would be retrogressive.
“Since he came back, his confidence levels is much higher. In the pre-season against the Sharks, he was worried about the injury. We have plans tomorrow because we know the Scarlets do rush a bit onto the first receiver.”
STORMERS Starting XV:
15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Ernst van Rhyn (capt), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ali Vermaak
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Nama Xaba, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis