Scotland international 'excited' to see Stormers star return
It is a pre-season outing and part of the ‘strategic partnership’ between Cape Town and Seattle.
It is also the ‘curtain raiser’ that takes place after the ‘main match’, when the Stormers XXIII take on Major League Rugby side the Seattle Seawolves in Cape Town on Sunday.
The match takes place directly after the Stormers’ United Rugby Championship Round 13 fixture against the Dragons.
That allows for a bit more leeway on the age-group factor, which will see only seven players (in the matchday 23, four in the starting XV) above the age of 23 to feature in the XXIII selection.
Sunday will see several players return from injury.
JC Mars, Josh Boulle, Keke Morabe, Divan Fuller, Oliver Kebble, Jean-Luc du Plessis and Bruce Sherwood all make their return from stints on the sideline with injuries.
Kebble, 33, has 12 caps for Scotland and knows a thing or two about how tough it is to come back from the long lay-off.
He said he is particularly “excited” about seeing the young (24-year-old) Morabe make his comeback.
Morabe fractured his leg in December 2024 during a Champions Cup match against Toulon in Port Elizabeth. The injury necessitated surgery and was his second leg fracture in nine months.
“Some guys I haven’t seen a lot of,” Kebble told a media briefing in the build-up to Sunday’s historic outing.
“I’m excited to see a guy like Keke Morabe come back from a serious, long-term injury.
“He is an unbelievable athlete, and I’m excited to see him go on Sunday.
“JL [du Plessis] is coming back from an injury.
“There are also a lot of young guys, Under-20 players who are getting their first shot.
“The fringe players must perform well and put themselves back in [the frame for] the senior squad.”
* (WATCH as veteran Scotland international Oliver Kebble runs the rule over the Stormers’ returning stars and the franchise’s many talented young props…..)
Speaking about his own injury lay-off, he said it is ‘part and parcel’ of the game.
“I am extremely happy to be back in Cape Town,” he said of a hamstring injury that prevented him from playing in the season-opener against Leinster late last year and a chronic ankle problem.
“My role is, obviously, to play rugby, but also help the young guys as much as possible.
“Then, when I am fit and healthy, I will put my hand up for the Stormers.
“This weekend’s opportunity is one that I need to take for selection again.”
Looking at the young props coming through at the Stormers, Kebble said there are ‘many’, but he singled out Zimbabwean import Vernon Matongo as a particularly talented loosehead.
“On my side of the scrum, there is Vern [Matongo, 24], who has already staked his claim.
“He is a very exciting talent.
“Having worked with Oliver Reid for the past few months, he is an exciting prospect for the future.
“What I am trying to lend a hand when I can, maybe offer some advice.
“Most importantly, I must not get in the way of their development.”
He admitted that developing props takes time, but getting the experience in training and on the field will help them in the future.
“Scrumming is tough, even at my age; I still haven’t quite worked it out.
“The more experience they get and time in the saddle is important, and that is why this [Under-23] competition is a good thing.”
@JanDKrugby
@rugby365com
