Manie Libbok is set to make his return from injury soon, but Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s form for the Stormers leaves boss John Dobson with a poser at flyhalf.
Dobson has confirmed that Vodacom URC champion and World Cup winner Libbok is “training properly” following a lengthy layoff.
“He won’t make Benetton [on Saturday], but he’ll be available after that,” the Stormers director of rugby said of Libbok, who has been sidelined since January with a knee injury suffered against Leinster.
The 27-year-old’s imminent return creates a balancing act for Dobson, particularly after Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s hat-trick of tries in the first 26 minutes of last week’s URC victory against Connacht at Cape Town Stadium.
Stormers skipper Salmaan Moerat has been effusive in his praise for the 22-year-old Springbok utility back.
WATCH: Slippery Sacha carves up Connacht
“We all know that Sacha is an unbelievable player. The scary thing is that at age 22, we don’t know what his ceiling will be,” said Moerat. “He has his whole lifetime ahead of him.”
Feinberg-Mngomezulu has stated his preference for playing flyhalf, and his partnership with inside centre Damian Willemse has added another dimension to the Stormers attack.
“It is scary where he [Feinberg-Mngomezulu] could go. He has carried us through the past couple of games. He is exceptional, and gives players around him confidence. I count myself in that number,” Moerat added.
With three consecutive home matches against Benetton, Dragons and Cardiff, the Stormers are targeting maximum points to secure a URC playoff berth. How Dobson re-integrates Libbok – the first-choice flyhalf during the Capetonians’ 2021-2022 title run – without disrupting the current backline is a critical decision.
“He has bailed us out a few times,” Moerat said of Feinberg-Mngomezulu. “It is not just about his attacking… He has a great kicking game, and when you are playing games that are near Test-match level, that is what you need.”
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
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