Frans blow for Stormers as stalwart re-signs

John Dobson has announced a new deal for Scarra Ntubeni, but the Stormers chief is resigned to being without the services of Frans Malherbe for the rest of the season.  

Malherbe has been battling a niggling back injury since late March, which has required several epidurals according to Dobson, and the two-time world champion will also miss the Springbok alignment camp in Cape Town next week.

“Look, I don’t think he’ll play for us the rest [of the season]… Hopefully, we’ve got four more games,” Dobson said during a Stormers team announcement conference ahead of Friday night’s Vodacom URC round 18 clash against Cardiff at Cape Town Stadium.

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“Frans, I think it’s a product of like I said before, how it settles down, that back injury. There’s no big call on Frans.”

The Stormers received positive news on the injury front, however, with flyhalf Manie Libbok (knee) returning to the starting XV after being sidelined since January. His return sees Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu drop to the bench.

Neethling Fouche also returns to the front row after completing a three-match ban, while Suleiman Hartzenberg will earn his 50th Stormers cap on the right wing.

Dobson confirmed that veteran hooker Ntubeni, who is set to make his first appearance of the season off the bench, has signed a one-year contract extension with the Cape side.

“I think it’s nicer for Scarra’s sake to actually do a proper announcement but Scarra has signed another year, which is brilliant. Sorry, Scarra, to break the news like this!” the director of rugby said.

“We felt that with Joseph Dweba going, we got some really good young hookers, two good ones in JJ Kotze and Andre-Hugo Venter, and we felt that Boepa [Lukhanyo Vokozela] is going to be special, just need to get him on the field.

“And then we got Keagan Blanckenberg coming from UCT but they both haven’t got much rugger. So we just thought if two of them were injured, there’s a guy who can scrum in a Champions Cup final, who’s Scarra. He’s looking after himself, a great team man, so very pleased he’s staying on for another year.”

Dobson emphasised the importance of loyalty, Ntubeni the latest seasoned campaigner to recommit to the Stormers following Deon Fourie and Seabelo Senatla.

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“The group really appreciates it if you stand by a player; these guys have all proven themselves, you know. Whether it’s Skat [Ntubeni] now … Somebody’s going to go on social media, ‘how are you extending a 34-year-old hooker who hasn’t played for you?’ 

“But if you’re in the group and know what they bring and work with them every day, it’s an important message for us.

“We’re never going to put somebody on the scrap heap, and let him without sin cast the first stone in Seabelo’s case. We announced Deon’s [extension] two weeks after his injury – we’re not signing him because he got injured, but because we still have faith. I think it’s an important part of why we’ve got some of the culture we have here.”

Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images