Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is sure to start at flyhalf for the Stormers against the Scarlets on Saturday. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
It was a case of two steps forward and two steps back for the Stormers on Tuesday when John Dobson announced a 30-man squad for their two-match United Rugby Championship tour of Europe.
The Capetonians will take on Welsh side Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday (5pm start), and then face Ulster in Belfast the following Friday.
Dobson will be hoping for maximum points from both games in order to stay in the hunt for the URC playoffs, as they are languishing in 12th position on the log with just 28 points following five wins and seven defeats.
But they are still in contention for the quarter-finals, as the eighth-placed Lions are just a point ahead on 29, following the Cape side's 19-16 win over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on March 1.
Dobson would have been delighted to include Springbok stars Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse on Tuesday following long injury layoffs.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu is sure to be the starting flyhalf against the Scarlets as Manie Libbok is still sidelined with a knee injury.
Willemse, though, is an interesting case as he can slot it at flyhalf, inside centre and fullback.
But the Stormers travelled to Wales on Tuesday without two stalwarts in flank Ben-Jason Dixon and tighthead prop Neethling Fouché.
Dixon will have an operation on his wrist this week, while Fouché is awaiting the birth of his second child.
In addition, scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer was ruled out with a groin strain, which sees veteran Dewaldt Duvenage supporting Paul de Wet and Herschel Jantjies as the halfbacks.
But the backline stocks was further bolstered by the return of utility back Suleiman Hartzenberg from a broken hand, while the pack will have lock Connor Evans back from injury too.
“This tour is crucial in the context of our campaign. We want to take some good momentum into the home run, which starts in April,” Dobson said in a statement on Tuesday.
“It is fantastic to welcome back a few key players, and they are all keen to make a big impression.”
Stormers Tour Squad
Forwards: Joseph Dweba, Willie Engelbrecht, Connor Evans, Dave Ewers, Deon Fourie, Brok Harris, JJ Kotze, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat (captain), Gary Porter, Evan Roos, Sazi Sandi, Sti Sithole, Marcel Theunissen, Ruben van Heerden, André-Hugo Venter, Ali Vermaak.
Backs: Luke Burger, Paul de Wet, Dan du Plessis, Dewaldt Duvenage, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Warrick Gelant, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Herschel Jantjies, Ben Loader, Jurie Matthee, Wandisile Simelane, Damian Willemse, Leolin Zas.