The Stormers will have a practice match against the Pumas today in their only real warm-up before the start of the United Rugby Championship (URC) next weekend.
Veteran Ruhan Nel will mark his return after a long injury layoff as they prepare for the URC opener against the Ospreys in Wales towards the end of the month. But there will be no return for utility back and Bok stalwart Damian Willemse, who will be spared for the first competitive game.
The Cape side and inaugural URC champions were supposed to open their season against the Bulls, but the final of the Currie Cup this Saturday forced the postponement of the clash to early next year.
Nel is itching to get back on the field after nine months on the sidelines due to a serious knee injury. He has had time to prepare mentally for another tough season and switch off a bit from rugby, and to regenerate his batteries with his family. It also gave him the chance to experience rugby from the coach’s box.
But he is ready to don the Stormers jersey again and lead the side defensively.
“I am 100% ready to go and will look to get some 60 minutes of game time in the lowveld heat,” Nel said about today’s clash behind closed doors.
“Nine months is a long time. At one stage, I was literally doing nothing.”
“Nine months is a long time. At one stage, I was literally doing nothing. And that is the strange thing to me. One moment you are this athlete and your body does everything and the next moment you lie on the field and you are basically a baby because people have to do things for you.
“Rehab is not an easy thing and physically you know you’ll get back to where you were, but it’s the mental wellness you have to look after. Those thoughts of ‘will I have the confidence to step on the field again or be able to make that first sidestep or tackle’. Those are the things mulling through your mind that you have to work through in rehabilitation.
“I am excited to be back on the field (today) and just want to play again.”
Nel will partner with regular midfielder Dan du Plessis but knows in his absence, guys like recruit Wandisile Simelane and rookie Suleiman Hartzenberg have taken steps forward to wear the Stormers’ outside centre jersey in the new season.
But he has viewed his lay-off as the chance to pass on knowledge to those who played in his place because he believes you can’t be selfish and keep all your experience to yourself without contributing to the side.
The 33-year-old was chuffed with the new jerseys the Stormers will play in this season. The home kit honours the more than 350 players who have played for the Cape side since 1998 with their names on the blue and white hooped jersey, while the away one symbolises a mix of what Cape Town is.
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“It’s a special jersey with some legendary names on it. Even if Siya Kolisi is playing at the Sharks now, it would not make sense for him to be left off the jersey just because he isn’t here. He has played over 100 matches for the Stormers.
“Siya, Eben Etzebeth, Bongi Mbonambi, who are all at the Sharks, they are big names in the Cape. You also think of Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger, Werner Greeff and before them Bobby Skinstad and Robbie Fleck. The guys playing now, we realise the road they have paved for us to play for the Stormers.
“It will be difficult when you play guys like Siya, Eben or Bongi, but they will appreciate this gesture.”