'We're vulnerable there': Dobson on Stormers' depth
INTERVIEW: The Stormers might be stacked with quality players across the board ahead of the 2026/27 Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) and Investec Champions Cup, but head coach John Dobson is concerned about squad depth in two areas.
Dobson, who named his 56-man squad for the two competitions last week, leaned towards experience while handing a couple of youngsters their breakthroughs.
While he’s satisfied with the depth in various positions like prop and in the loose forwards and flyhalf, Dobson raised concerns about their lock stocks.
The inaugural URC champions have named just five locks: JD Schickerling, Adré Smith, Connor Evans, Gary Porter and the uncapped Riley Norton.
This is after Ruben van Heerden left the side to join Montpellier, along with former captain Salmaan Moerat, who is at La Rochelle.
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“I think it’s our best squad we’ve put out in terms of quality of players,” Dobson said.
“But I don’t think it’s the best in terms of spread. Losing two Springbok locks, who were under contract when we released them, is a challenge for us.
“For us to really compete in both competitions very deep, we probably need a very healthy lock roster.”
The Stormers were previously linked with Argentina lock Tomás Lavanini, who was seen as a potential option.
Dobson said they had conversations with the Los Pumas forward but decided against getting him on board.
“There wasn’t anybody we could get in,” he added.
“We had the conversations with Lavanini; that would make a difference, but we didn’t want to get a journeyman in when we’ve got a guy like Gary who puts in everything or Thomas Barnard who is a promising player.
“We couldn’t find a difference maker to replace that, so we are vulnerable there.
“I think it can be offset by what the Springboks did, if we train up BJ Dixon properly at four, and that changes the whole picture quite dramatically.”
While lock is a concern, Dobson admitted that his wing stocks are also a major flash point.
Dobson named seven wingers, but it’s Leolin Zas, Seabelo Senatla, and Cheslin Kolbe who are most experienced.
JC Mars has only three caps to his name, while Mfundo Ndhlovu, Joel Leotlela, and Gino Cupido are inexperienced at the highest level.
“We’ve over-relied on Zas; he played more games than anybody in the URC last year.
“Seabelo Senatla was largely injured, and we had to borrow Dylan Maart from the Griquas.
“Cheslin is our sort of big signing there, and we’re very chuffed with Mfundo from the Currie Cup.”
The Stormers also handed an unofficial debut to 25-year-old Lleyton Davids, better known as the “Robertson Express” in their warm-up watch against the Bulls.
Davids scored a scintillating try, grabbing most of the headlines, but he was left out of the wider squad for the upcoming season.
Dobson said they’ll continue to develop him for the future.
“The Robertson Express is something we’re going to invest in; we’ve seen enough.
“We took a punt based on some grainy footage and a drive to Robertson.
“We think there’s something special there. It’s going to take him at least a year, so he won’t play URC this season, but we’re going to keep developing him and keep him with us.”
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