Cape Town – The absence of key players due to injury will force Stormers coach John Dobson to revert to a conventional five/three bench in favour of the forwards in the highly anticipated United Rugby Championship (URC) derby against the Bulls at the DHL Stadium on Saturday.
The Stormers will tackle the Bulls without Springbok playmaker Manie Libbok (knee), props Neethling Fouche (concussion) and Ali Vermaak, lock JD Schickerling and wing Suleiman Hartzenberg (thumb).
Dobson’s gamble with the six/two bench split backfired spectacularly when the Cape side were left without specialist flyhalf, Libbok, at a crucial juncture in the 36-12 URC loss against Irish giants Leinster.
Libbok left the field in the 38th minute of the clash against Leinster in Dublin and was replaced by 20-year-old centre Jonathan Roche at flyhalf.
Defence coach Norman Laker admitted in a press conference on Monday that losing Libbok quite early in the game [against Leinster] was a big loss for the team.
“He is a general and a Springbok 10,” said Laker.
“Between Jonny Roche and Warrick Gelant, they had to cover 10 and put us in the backfoot a little bit.
“He [Libbok] went off [due to injury], but we also gave him a few extra days due to his compulsory Springbok resting period.”
Even though Laker suggested that Libbok might be fit for the Bulls clash, it is highly unlikely that the Bok flyhalf will recover in time from what looks like a serious knee injury.
Other flyhalf options Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse, and Jean-Luc Du Plessis are also all on the casualty list. That leaves the door open for a specialist flyhalf like Jurie Matthee (pictured above) to slot in at number 10.
Matthee (24) could form a new halfback pairing with Stefan Ungerer.
Dan du Plessis (subject to passing a fitness test) should start at inside centre next to Matthee, with Du Plessis forming a new combination with the fleet-footed Wandisile Simelane in the midfield.

Dan du Plessis Photo: Instagram
Hartzenberg (broken thumb) took the opportunity to tie the knot last weekend. Englishman Ben Loader should wear the number 14 jersey with Leolin Zas on the other wing and Warrick Gelant in the last line of defence.
Springbok lock Salmaan Moerat will again lead the side with alongside Ruben van Heerden in the engine room.
With Schickerling out, Gary Porter gets an opportunity to provide cover in the lock position.

Gary Porter, with Brok Harris and Warrick Gelant looking on Photo: Stormers
With Fouche and Vermaak unavailable in the front row, Sti Sithole, Joseph Dweba and Frans Malherbe should anchor the scrum. Props Sazi Sandi and veteran Brok Harris as well as hooker Andre-Hugo Venter will provide front row cover off the bench.
Springboks Evan Roos, Ben-Jason Dixon and Deon Fourie will form a formidable loose trio in the starting line-up with Marcel Theunissen looking to make an impact in the second half.
Springbok scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies, youngster Jonny Roche and the experienced Clayton Blommetjies are the three backs on the bench.
Possible Stormers line-up against the Bulls
1. Sti Sithole, 2. Joseph Dweba, 3. Frans Malherbe, 4. Salmaan Moerat (Captain) 5. Ruben van Heerden, 6. Deon Fourie, 7. Ben-Jason Dixon, 8. Evan Roos, 9. Stephan Ungerer, 10. Jurie Matthee, 11. Leolin Zas, 12. Dan du Plessis, 13. Wandisile Simelane, 14. Ben Loader, 15. Warrick Gelant
Replacements: 16. Andre-Hugo Venter, 17. Brok Harris, 18. Sazi Sandi, 19. Gary Porter, 20. Marcel Theunissen, 21. Herschel Jantjies, 22. Jonny Roche, 23. Clayton Blommetjies