Lock Ruben van Heerden is set to return from injury this weekend when the Stormers face Connacht in the URC.
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The Stormers will have one of their main workhorses back for this weekend’s crucial United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against Connacht in Cape Town.
Following thumb surgery and an absence since early February, Ruben van Heerden is set to be available for selection and could bring immediate relief to the Stormers’ lock issues. Against a physical side like Connacht, he could be the injection the home side needs at the DHL Stadium (1.45 pm kickoff).
They’ve relied on JD Schickerling and Adré Smith for the last couple of matches, with captain Salmaan Moerat also sidelined with a toe injury. Stormers director of rugby John Dobson confirmed that Van Heerden is available, but they only expect Moerat back around the URC play-offs in just over a month’s time.
Both Moerat and Van Heerden are set to leave the Cape side at the end of the season, and Dobson said the captain will still feature to ensure he gets a proper farewell. For now, Van Heerden will slot back in to give Smith and Schickerling a much-needed break.
“It has been a tough period for us in terms of the locks, but Ruben is available this week, and the latest call for Salmaan’s return will be if we make a quarter-final, possibly a week or two earlier,” Dobson said.
“Hopefully, come the play-offs, we are at full strength with our locks. It made a big difference during that run when we had all four available. If you can bring an Adré and JD off the bench, it is difficult for other teams to compete with that.”
Utility back Damian Willemse could also spend another week or two on the wing. He has been a revelation in that position, particularly under the high ball, and has brought valuable relief with the Stormers stretched when it comes to out-and-out pace.
While Dobson is keen to utilise the double World Cup winner in that role again, he emphasised it is not a long-term option.
“If not this week, he will move back to 15 or 12 over the next couple of games. It is not a long-term career move for him. We used him against Edinburgh and Toulon to execute our attacking plan, and it worked.
“He has been pretty effective around the contestable kicks.”