While the signing of Springbok Cheslin Kolbe will be a boost for the Stormers as they continue to build towards their "Project 2029" goal, the Cape side must look for a credible replacement for captain Ruhan Nel (pictured) in the No 13 jersey over the next couple of seasons.
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COMMENT
The acquisition of Cheslin Kolbe should not be the last major signing for the Stormers ahead of the next United Rugby Championship (URC) season.
While Kolbe will bring some much-needed relief on the wing, it’s the No 13 jersey that could cause some headaches for the Cape side looking towards the future. With 35-year-old captain Ruhan Nel already transitioning into a coaching role while still expertly marshalling the Stormers’ midfield, there is no panic at the moment.
However, when looking at a potential replacement — especially one with his defensive prowess — the Stormers are worryingly thin as they push towards their “Project 2029” goal. That is why there should be a priority in the off-season to bring in another senior outside centre.
While that may ruffle some feathers among the Cape side’s supporters who want to see homegrown talent coming through, there is currently no clear heir to that No 13 jersey.
Director of rugby John Dobson has shuffled his midfield combinations, especially when Nel was injured this season, but the changes simply did not yield the same success they enjoyed when Nel was fit. And that could be the danger looming over the next couple of seasons: if the Stormers captain is unavailable, and with their Springboks away on national duty, do they have the necessary backup to fill that commanding role in midfield?
Their fragility without Nel was exposed in the final two URC league matches on the road. Nel was sidelined with a calf strain and the Stormers leaked tries against Ulster Rugby in a 38-38 draw, and again against Cardiff Rugby in a losing cause. The defeat in Wales saw them slip to third on the URC log, and their chances of hosting a semi-final — should they progress beyond the quarter-finals this weekend — now appear slim.
The former Blitzboks star also played a commanding role in their early-season unbeaten run, captaining the side through 10 consecutive victories. But his injury during the matches against the Sharks and an away defeat to the Lions highlighted how much the Stormers struggle to function without him, particularly on defence.
It will, therefore, be crucial to find a solid replacement for Nel when he eventually calls time on his career. And right now, there are no obvious candidates within the Stormers setup.
They have Wandisile Simelane, Suleiman Hartzenberg and rookie Markus Muller, who recently made his debut, but none are in the mould of Nel. There have been flashes of brilliance from Simelane at 13, especially at Loftus Versfeld against the Bulls in what was a must-win clash. However, he has yet to truly make the outside centre jersey his own since arriving in Cape Town.
His combination with rookie No 12 Jonathan Roche has not come to fruition this season, and plenty of water still needs to run under the bridge before they can become a formidable Stormers centre pairing.
Hartzenberg, still only 23, already has 50 caps to his name, but the question remains whether he is the long-term solution. At present, he remains on the fringes and only recently returned to the side after a spell out partially due to injury. Muller, just 18, made his debut against the Glasgow Warriors, but still has a long way to go before establishing himself as the Stormers’ premier No 13.
While they have players capable of filling the gap when needed, the time has come to look for a long-term solution — one that can solidify the team and help drive “Project 2029” and beyond.