Stormers XXIII Injury Boost Ahead of Sharks Currie Cup Clash

Forty-one points to three. That scoreline from Wellington still stings, and Stormers XXIII coach Tom Dawson-Squibb knows there is no hiding from it. But rather than tear strips off his squad, Dawson-Squibb is pointing to an injection of returning bodies as the catalyst for a response when the Sharks XV arrive at DHL Stadium on Saturday.

Stormers XXIII Bounce Back From Heavy Loss

The Cape side were outplayed in every department by Boland in round two of the Currie Cup — a defeat that left their campaign wobbling after just two rounds. Dawson-Squibb, however, is not pressing the panic button. "We've got a few players coming back, so hopefully that'll make a difference," he said. "We're obviously playing a different opposition on a different ground and I'd like to think we'll bounce back from this."

Key Players Return to Strengthen Squad

The returning names carry real weight. Captain Jean-Luc du Plessis, forced off with a knee injury during the opening-round win over Griquas, is expected to be fit. Alongside him, Dawson-Squibb confirmed wings Suleiman Hartzenberg and Joel Leotlela, scrumhalf Ezekiel Ngobeni, props Ollie Reid and Danie Kruger, and loose forward Louw Nel are all in contention. That is a significant bolstering of options across the park — the kind of reinforcement that could completely reshape Dawson-Squibb's matchday selections.

There is also an unusual training stimulus on the horizon. The Stormers XXIII will link up with the senior URC group this week as the first-team squad prepares for the All Blacks on 7 August at DHL Stadium — a Rugby's Greatest Rivalry fixture that has captured the whole country's attention. "We're going to train with the URC guys this week because they're prepping for the All Blacks, which I think will lift us," said Dawson-Squibb. That kind of environment, rubbing shoulders with the senior programme in full Test-prep mode, should sharpen minds quickly.

Coach Backs Current Roster Despite Defeat

For all the frustration of Sunday's result, Dawson-Squibb refused to hang his players out to dry. "The easiest thing to say is select a different team, but you've got what you've got and I'm confident in the guys that we've got enough in the tank," he said. "We need to be better, we need to change one or two things. I'm obviously frustrated at the moment — partly with how we performed and maybe partly with myself. What could we have done differently? You always do that as a coach. It's easier to sit and blame the players, but I'm not going to do that."

That is the mark of a coach who takes ownership — something I respect deeply in this game. The Sharks XV arrive in Cape Town off the back of a 43-21 hiding from the Cheetahs last week, so both sides are desperate for points. Kickoff at DHL Stadium is 15:00 SAST on Saturday, and with seven players potentially returning to the fold, Dawson-Squibb has every reason to expect a very different performance from his side.