Matthee Chosen To Replace Injured Sacha

The DHL Stormers believe Jurie Matthee is the ideal man to fill the massive boots of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu following the star fly-half’s injury setback.

As has been well documented, Feinberg-Mngomezulu suffered a serious ankle injury during the Stormers’ victory over Cardiff, an injury that is expected to sideline him for at least three months.

Matthee came on as his replacement and made an immediate impact, slotting two penalties and a conversion to finish with eight points in the 28 minutes he spent on the field.

With Feinberg-Mngomezulu ruled out, attention has turned to how the Stormers will adapt their game plan during a crucial period of the season.

The absence of their star playmaker naturally raises questions about structure, tempo and attacking intent. When Feinberg-Mngomezulu wears the No. 10 jersey, the Stormers tend to play a more expansive, high-tempo brand of rugby built around instinct, creativity and the ability to exploit broken play.

By contrast, when Matthee takes charge at fly-half, the team appears to favour a more structured and controlled approach.

Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani highlighted Matthee’s contribution throughout the season and pointed to his impressive display in the opening URC fixture against this weekend’s opponents, Leinster, where the fly-half scored 20 points, including a memorable try.

“In the first URC game, it might have been a Leinster side with different personnel, but Jurie was the fly-half who started, and it worked well for us then,” said Hlungwani.

“Jurie is ready to step in. He has never really been out of the team. He has played tough games for us, so we are quite confident that he’ll come in and do what he does best.”

Matthee was instrumental during the Stormers’ strong start to the season, playing the full 80 minutes in five of his first six appearances. It is therefore understandable that the coaching staff have such confidence in his ability and readiness to step up when required.

“We like players to play to their strengths, so he will fit in nicely. There are no particular changes to the way we play.”

Some may argue that Matthee needs time to settle into the role and build combinations ahead of such a demanding fixture. However, Hlungwani dismissed those concerns, stressing that continuity in training ensures the team is never overly disrupted by individual injuries.

“The difference is that you see one fly-half starting, but during the week both players are training and running the team, so there is enough time to build those combinations,” he said.

“We always plan for that, whether it’s a lock injury or a prop injury. The players are always preparing as if they are going to play, so we’ve definitely had enough time.”

“We are very fortunate to have two quality fly-halves in Sacha and Jurie. Both try to keep us moving forward consistently instead of going backwards, while also ensuring we get quality set-pieces and field position. Jurie understands the plan,” Hlungwani insisted.

The opportunity could prove significant for both Matthee and the Stormers as they prepare for a daunting trip to Dublin. What is certain, however, is that Matthee has the full backing of those around him, a sentiment perhaps best summed up by Hlungwani’s emphatic endorsement:

“Jurie is the best person to cover Sacha’s place.”