John Dobson has confirmed that a decision was made with Frans Malherbe not to risk the veteran DHL Stormers prop against the Vodacom Bulls on Saturday. DYLAN JACK reports.
Malherbe was expected to make his return from a neck problem when the DHL Stormers faced the Vodacom Bulls at a packed Loftus Versfeld.
The two-time World Cup winner had already completed his mandatory resting period, but was left out of the matchday-23, with Neethling Fouche retaining the No 3 jersey, while promising youngster Sazi Sandi is back on the bench.
During a press conference on Friday, Stormers coach Dobson revealed that Malherbe could have played, but a collective decision was made not to risk him.
“Frans trained really nicely the whole week,” Dobson said. “He’s fit and it’s good to have him back, but he’s a bit like John Kani – he’s a national treasure.
“We just want to manage him properly. It’s in his own interest.
“He could have played. But being at Loftus as your first game back, if Neethling goes down in the fifth minute, there aren’t many props who after that length of time off who are ready for that experience.
“He’s had some stuff with his neck. As a prop that’s your future, your rugby earning, your health and wellbeing. So the guy has to feel really confident around that.
“We weren’t under pressure to play him in this game. Sazi Sandi is someone we want to give an opportunity to as well. It’s a great occasion for him.
“Frans will be fine. I’m sure he will be available to face Edinburgh. It’s just more of a controllable environment, because he would’ve had another two weeks of live scrums. He only did his first live scrum last Friday and that’s since the World Cup final. It’s just too long.
“It’s not about the national team, it’s about getting him confident in his own game. He’s not someone who wants to drop a team. He wanted to play and we could’ve forced him, but it’s wouldn’t have been right.”
Deon Fourie said Malherbe’s decision was indicitive of how the Stormers centurion is always willing to put the team first.
“With how long he’s been out for, about four months, he just didn’t feel that his game fitness was up there,” Fourie said.
“He was ready to play, but he didn’t want to drop the team. He doesn’t feel that his fitness is on that par at the moment.
“He’s a real team guy, that he can say that and put faith in the guys who have been selected.”
Photo: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
