'It's a challenge': Dobbo on accommodating Sacha and Yaqeen
SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers are in a healthy position when it comes to their flyhalf stocks, but it could bring about some selection headaches.
Young gun Yaqeen Ahmed grabbed his opportunity in the No.10 jersey against Ulster with both hands, delivering an eye-catching performance in the 33-7 United Rugby Championship win.
His vision in attack saw him produce three linebreaks and beat six defenders in the match. He also scored a five-pointer and delivered a pinpoint cross-kick for his captain Ruhan Nel to score as well.
It was a performance built on the momentum from the 52-40 win against Scarlets the week before when he came off the bench to score two tries in the second half.
After the Ulster game, Director of Rugby John Dobson was asked whether he sees a situation where first-choice playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Ahmed can be accommodated in the same backline, with the No.12 position as an option.
The Stormers boss admitted it will be tricky, especially with Markus Muller showing that he can produce the goods in the midfield.
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“I think I said it before; we talked in these rooms about how we were going to fit an on-form Warrick, Manie, Sacha, and we never really had Damian [Willemse] in the same team, and we never really had the problem, so I hope that becomes a problem now.
“I thought Markus Muller was absolutely outstanding today. He was phenomenal in everything he did.
“Sacha is adamant on playing No.10, and I am entirely convinced Yaqeen is a No.10, so it is a challenge.
“If we say Yaqeen’s growth is about game management and driving a game, then he has to play at No.10.
“However, just looking at the brutality of the fixture list and the international demands, it’s not going to be a problem.”
‘Special’
On Ahmed’s growth in that playmaker role, Dobson knows what the best course of action will be.
“He has got maturity, but he is going to need a lot more rugby to learn the real driving of the game. He is making massive progress, and he is one for the future.
“It’s not by accident that we’ve got Cobus Reinach at No.9 and Ruan Nel at No.13 because in between are two of the guys who were writing matric last year.
“Yaqeen is not the finished product by any stretch of the imagination.
“That will come by just playing for us, but what a talent and cool head…special.”
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