Dobbo to call Uncle Charles about his Boks - SA Rugby magazine

Eleven Stormers players received national call-ups on Wednesday as director of rugby John Dobson prepared to contact Springboks team manager Charles Wessels over player availability for a crucial coastal derby.

A 33-7 Triumph Precedes the Break

The Stormers head into a month-long break following a 33-7 win against Ulster. Meanwhile, Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks prepare for Europe for the second leg of the Nations Championship. South Africa is scheduled to face Italy on 7 November, France on 13 November, and Ireland on 21 November, concluding with the finals weekend on 28 and 29 November.

Targeting the Sharks Clash in Durban

The national squad selection included uncapped players Markus Muller, Riley Norton, and Yaqeen Ahmed. Despite the heavy national representation, Dobson has not ruled out calling on any of those squad members for the match against the Sharks on 5 December if they fail to feature a week prior.

Dobbo to call Uncle Charles about his Boks - SA Rugby magazine

“We’ll have a chat with the Springboks because they were good around the Perth game,” Dobson said. “A couple of guys were sent back to play for their clubs.”

Navigating the International Contingent

Dobson indicated the franchise will initially plan without the international contingent. If the situation allows, he intends to reach out to team manager Charles Wessels during the week preceding the match, hoping non-playing squad members might be released after training to feature in Durban.

While managing Bok resting protocols and availability, Dobson outlined the immediate schedule for the players remaining at home. Those squad members will receive a two-week break before resuming training in preparation for the Sharks fixture.

A Gruelling December and January Schedule

Following the 5 December fixture, the Stormers face an intensive stretch of matches. The team travels for an Investec Champions Cup fixture against Bordeaux Begles on 13 December, followed by United Rugby Championship derbies against the Lions on 19 December and the Bulls on 3 January.

“The quantity of Springboks is a challenge for us. I don’t know how these new Springboks fit into the annual plan,” Dobson said. “I don’t see, realistically, that we’re twisting them to come back and play for us against the Sharks. We’ll have to work it out.”

“We could play the Lions and Bulls away without the Springboks. I think that’s what’s nice about the squad … I think we can still put out a pretty good side.”

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