John Dobson says the Stormers face a challenge against Connacht on Saturday, and in the Vodacom URC playoff race, following a serious back injury for prop Frans Malherbe.
The URC-winning scrum anchor and two-time Springbok world champion is ruled out for the round 15 clash at Cape Town Stadium, and potentially next week’s visit from Benetton.
With Neethling Fouche serving a four-week suspension, 26-year-old Sazi Sandi will make only his second start of the season in the No 3 jersey for the Stormers.
“It’s a back thing, and a tighthead and a back and scans and epidurals… It’s a moving feast,” Dobson said during a team announcement conference on Friday. “He [Malherbe] could play next week or it could be a long time.
“It’s not a precaution, he’s definitely unavailable. Be lucky if he plays next week. I think it’s one of the things that he’s going to require more scans and scans.
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“He’s been struggling with his posture for a little while in the scrum, and it’s just got worse. I hope for something good but he went yesterday to the specialist [who said] absolutely no chance this week, more scans next week.
“So it’s a disaster.”
On Sandi getting a rare run-on appearance, the Stormers director of rugby added: “It’s a massive opportunity. The thing with having Neethling and Frans is we’ve probably given Sazi limited opportunity, you know.
“I think Sazi is special. He’s a massive presence to this team off the field. He’s aggressive in the scrum, aggressive in attack and aggressive in the carry. It’s actually a really good thing from that point of view.”
Currently 10th on the URC standings, Dobson’s charges face a desperate Connacht side just two points behind the Stormers and also in the hunt for a playoff spot.
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The 13th-placed Irish club’s buildup this week was rocked by the sudden departure of head coach Pete Wilkins while several stars, including Ireland internationals Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen, remained in Galway injured.
But Dobson isn’t reading too much into the tourists’ troubles, and rather focusing on his team’s priorities with four rounds left of the league stages.
“We literally have no more runway,” he said. “If the Stormers don’t make the playoffs, despite the misfortunes and everything and whatever else we want to talk about, if we don’t make the playoffs, that’s a staggering underachievement.
“So we’re just as desperate. And, you know, playing at home, we have to win four games in a row, and it’s non-negotiable. They’ll be desperate, but I promise you, there’s no lack of urgency from us.
“I know Connacht is under a lot of pressure. I know there are a couple of big players missing,” he added. “But we have to be in the top eight to not make this season a failure. We have to win these four home games. It’s self-explanatory.
“A couple of disruptions, like if you lose the world’s best tighthead on the day before the game, makes it a challenge.”
Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
