Stormers injury boost: Ruhan Nel and 'miracle man' Deon Fourie could return for Lions clash

The Stormers have had four weeks to lick their mental wounds after back-to-back defeats to the Sharks, and in that time, they have been physically boosted by a host of returning players ahead of Saturday’s visit to the Lions at Ellis Park (kick-off 2.30pm).

Perhaps chief among them is the influential leader Ruhan Nel, who marshalled the Stormers from the midfield during their golden run in the first half of the United Rugby Championship. Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman said on Monday that, in addition to Nel, Deon Fourie, Seabelo Senatla, Dan du Plessis, and Jean-Luc du Plessis are also back in training.

That represents a wealth of backline experience plus a loose forward boost in the form of never-say-die veteran Fourie. Earlier in the season, the Stormers suffered a slew of injuries to their back division.

“They have all started training with us and on Tuesday we will make a call on their availability for this week’s game,” said Snyman.

“It will be a tough call as they’ve been out for a while and you don’t want to rush anyone back too quickly. But Ruhan is back and Deon is back and going really nicely. Keke (Morabe) has also been back in training, but he has been in and out, so he won’t be available for selection just yet.”

A midfield pairing of Nel and Dan du Plessis against the Lions would be close to first prize for coach John Dobson. Damian Willemse is likely to be rested according to Springbok protocols, though Dobson still has talented options in Jonathan Roche, Wandisile Simelane, and Suleiman Hartzenberg.

Fourie, the 39-year-old "Miracle Man", has recovered from his latest serious injury, a torn bicep. Brannas is likely to be eased back off the bench at Ellis Park.

“It will be good to have Deon to help out Paul (de Villiers), but obviously it is going to take two or three games to get him fully fit,” said Snyman.

“He has worked hard on his return from injury and we know he is very tough mentally. He is prepared to take himself into dark places to achieve what he sets out to do. It is not only in helping out Paul that Deon is valuable to us, but also his leadership."

The involvement of leaders like Nel and Fourie is all the more welcome because Snyman hinted that Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will join Willemse in taking a resting break.

There was a different kind of boost for the Stormers in the form of electric flanker Hacjivah Dayimani, who has returned to Cape Town after two seasons in France. Still unavailable to Dobson because of injury are heavyweight forwards Salmaan Moerat, Ruben van Heerden, and Ruan Ackermann.

* Mike Greenaway is a senior rugby reporter at Independent Media and contributor on our Last World on Rugby podcast on our YouTube channel, The Clutch