Dobson outlines Stormers’ plan to manage Sacha and Bok stars’ return
INTERVIEW: Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson will face the delicate task of managing and phasing in his Springbok stalwarts during the early stages of their 2026/27 United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign.
Dobson said he expects his big guns to be available when it matters most but rejected the notion that the Stormers will be overly reliant on them.
The Stormers have a handful of international players who will only return to their camp after the Bok clash against Australia in Perth next week.
Among them are the new signings, Cheslin Kolbe, Siya Kolisi and Wilco Louw.
Dobson revealed his plans for the trio, stressing that they’ll be heavily involved in what promises to be a demanding season.
“Cheslin is a bit of a blow that he won’t play the October matches; he’s out for four weeks,” he said.
“It’s common cause that we’ve been a little bit light on the wings over the last season or two, just relying on Leolin Zas and Seabelo Senatla.
“Siya is a guy we looked at for all positions in the back row. The way he’s grown, he can play seven and eight for us.
“In terms of Wilco, I think we’ve got an outstanding tighthead roster, and it’s going to be a challenge how we fit everybody in.
“If you just see the damage he’s [Wilco] done on the world stage, it’s a massive acquisition, a like-for-like with Frans Malherbe for us.”
*Also read: Leinster semifinal loss still haunts Stormers ahead of new season
Learning to be good without the Boks
The Bok stars will have a bye after the Australia game, and Dobson revealed that they’ve offered them a week off beyond the Edinburgh match.
They’ll be phased in thereafter before leaving the side for the Nations Championship in November.
The Bok contingent will likely feature again in the festive games in December, but Dobson will have to do without them for two matches during the Six Nations window because of a planned Springbok camp.
“The Springboks have communicated clearly to us about the rest periods and the Six Nations window,” he added.
“They’ve got some camps there, so that will be two games, local derbies that we’ll play without our Springboks.
“That’s understood and communicated, and the same applies to other franchises.
“We have to learn to be good without the Springboks, and hopefully this tour coming up is a time we can show we can. I’m not worried about them not being available for crunch times; it’s just how we manage them.”
Sacha to miss all four matches in October
After recovering from an ankle injury, flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu jumped straight into action for the Boks in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.
He’s one of the players Dobson wants to manage properly and not rush back into action.
Instead, Dobson will back Jurie Matthee, who carried the fort when Feinberg-Mngomezulu was injured, and youngster Yaqeen Ahmed.
“A guy like Sacha just comes off four 80 minutes of massive games; that’s going to require some management.
“We’re going to have to be brave as coaches; he’s a big name and the Springboks’ No. 1 flyhalf.
“We are going to have to manage him and back Yaqeen and Jurie, who have both got their merit. Sacha won’t return to be the starting 10 in all four games in October: that’s not going to happen.”
Feinberg-Mngomezulu will therefore miss matches against the Sharks, Bristol Bears, Scarlets and Ulster.
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