'Credit to Boks for showing faith' in Salmaan Moerat
SPOTLIGHT: Salmaan Moerat has faced challenges over the past few seasons, but he has found himself in the right ‘headspace’ again and is now back in the Springbok squad.
One of his biggest and proudest supporters is his former coach John Dobson, who expressed his happiness over the lock’s inclusion in Rassie Erasmus’ 37-man squad for the second leg of the Nations Championship in November.
Moerat endured heavy criticism, bordering on abuse, from fans in South Africa over his value to the Stormers and the Boks.
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To help get away from the noise, the 66th Springbok captain left the Cape Town franchise for French club La Rochelle at the end of last season and is now using that new chapter to grow his confidence again.
“He would be absolutely thrilled to get away from what was said about him on social media,” said Dobson. “That’s one of the reasons why he is not here anymore.
“That’s the achievement and objective of some people: to destroy Salmaan or Vernon Paulo or Warrick Gelant.
“I am absolutely thrilled for Salmaan, and I’m pleased he went to La Rochelle because the narrative around him was crazy.”
Dobson praised the Boks for keeping tabs on Moerat, who recently showed his pedigree off the bench in La Rochelle’s Champions Cup win over the Lions.
There were glimpses of the form that helped the Stormers win the URC title in 2022 before he became part of Rassie Erasmus’ plans.
Credit to Boks
“The guy wrote cheques with this team and his body struggled to cash; such was his physicality,” Dobson added.
“I am absolutely thrilled he is back in the Springbok team. I’m sorry he had to go to La Rochelle to get himself in the right headspace.
“Even some of the things people say about Siya Kolisi, you work with them, and you realise this is a generational leader and contributor to our country.
“I’m very pleased for Salmaan because one of the risks of going overseas is that you can fall out of the Springbok group, so credit to the Springboks for showing their faith in him.”
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