The Stormers are about to get a major boost as they embark on their demanding four-match tour across Europe, but here's where it gets controversial: Is relying on late arrivals the best strategy for a team with championship ambitions?
After securing two impressive victories at home, the Capetonian squad is preparing to take their show on the road. Their journey kicks off with a challenging match against the Scarlets in Llanelli this Friday night. Following that, they'll cross the channel to Italy for encounters with Zebre and Benetton before concluding their European adventure with a potentially decisive showdown against Munster in Ireland.
Head coach John Dobson is already breathing a sigh of relief as key players Sacha Feinberg Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse are declared fit and ready for the Scarlets clash. But the real game-changer? More Springboks are en route to strengthen the squad for the latter stages of the tour.
In a move that will significantly bolster their options, Salmaan Moerat and Warrick Gelant are making triumphant returns from their respective injury setbacks. Their experience and physical presence could be exactly what the Stormers need as they face increasingly challenging opponents in the coming weeks.
But here's what most people miss: Cobus Reinach, the newly acquired scrum-half, might only join the squad for the Italian leg after requesting personal time. The transition has been anything but smooth for the former Montpellier player.
"There's a platoon flying to Italy," Dobson revealed with a smile, highlighting the logistical challenge of assembling a complete squad across multiple countries. "Salmaan is back, and Warrick is back. Those guys are coming to Italy."
The visa situation adds another layer of complexity to the team's preparations. "Clinton Swart, Oli Kebble, Adre Smith and one of the physios will be joining us later," Dobson explained. "Adre came in today [Thursday]. It's not a problem with the visa per se, but rather timing. Oli Kebble joined us very late in pre-season, and Clinton [on loan from the Pumas] also had a delayed arrival, which means we've been working through the Schengen and UK visa processes."
Meanwhile, Reinach is still finding his feet in Cape Town. "I think he needed to hang some pictures," Dobson joked affectionately. "The man literally just moved to Cape Town. If you work it out from when he left Montpellier, he has been in Springbok camp virtually non-stop."
The question on everyone's mind: How will these late arrivals affect team chemistry and performance? "He will join us at some stage on the tour," Dobson confirmed. "Whether it will be this week, next week or the week after, but he genuinely needed some downtime at home, which we completely understand. His break program will look a bit different to Sacha and Damian's, but he will definitely be with us for the Benetton match. I'll chat with him after tomorrow [Friday] night and assess his availability for next week, but Benetton is definitely on the cards."
As the Stormers prepare to face increasingly diverse playing styles across three different countries, one has to wonder: Is this patchwork approach to squad management a clever adaptation to modern rugby demands, or a risky strategy that could undermine their chances of success? What are your thoughts on the team's approach to managing player availability during demanding international tours?
