Speedster Seabelo Senatla is set to return to competitive rugby on Saturday in the Champions Cup against Toulon after an absence of almost two years.
Independent Newspapers have it on good authority that the former Blitzboks star will feature on the bench for the Stormers in their opening match of the cross-club competition at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha (5.15pm kick-off).
Senatla has been out of action since May 2023, after he was involved in a serious car accident ahead of the Stormers’ quarter-final against the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship.
His injuries, especially to his arm, were so severe that there were fears he would not play rugby again.
When the accident happened, Stormers director of rugby John Dobson said Senatla would be out of rugby for an indefinite time.
But over the last couple of months, the Blitzbok Olympic bronze medallist poured his energy into fighting for his place at the Cape side.
Now that he has regained full fitness, he’s received the go-ahead to resume his professional playing career.
Senatla was initially set for a return against the Sharks last weekend already.
A small hamstring injury picked up in training prevented the flyer from being selected for the trip to Durban, though, and he had to wait another agonising week and watch his team go down 21-15 at Kings Park.
But he participated in full training this week, and yesterday took contact in a Stormers practice session at Bishops Diocesan College as if he hasn’t been away from the game for almost two years.
His connection with fullback Warrick Gelant looked as sharp as that first season of the URC, when he helped the team to glory in the tournament.
Wings Suleiman Hartzenberg, Angelo Davids and Ben Loader stepped up for the Cape side in his absence, but the unpredictability and game-breaking ability of Senatla was missed.
The Stormers are preparing for a challenging clash against Toulon, who have won the Champions Cup three times already.
Hooker Joseph Dweba, who will play in his 50th match for the Cape outfit alongside fellow forward Willie Engelbrecht, said they are relishing facing the French giants in the ‘Friendly City’.
“We have been focusing on our set-pieces, and that is where we feel Toulon will challenge us this weekend. They are a big pack of forwards, and have shown they can scrum,” Dweba said yesterday.
“After the loss to the Sharks, our focus shifted to us. The mistakes we made, we had to fix up. We want to play our brand of rugby, the way we know. We got a bit loose, and had to tighten those things up.
“But we are also happy with how we are going in the scrums. Those connections you make weekly with the players next to you help a lot.”
Dweba, loosehead prop Ali Vermaak and tighthead Neethling Fouché had a massive scrum battle against Boks Ox Nche and Vincent Koch and Scotland hooker Dylan Richardson last weekend, and ended on top against the internationals of the Sharks.
But facing the giants of Toulon will be a different challenge.
The hooker said that he’s also been working hard on his lineout-throwing, and that has come through in the accuracy the Cape side have enjoyed in this facet of the game this season.
He’s received a lot of criticism in the past regarding throwing in at the lineout.
“Touch wood, but yes, it is going well,” Dweba added about the lineouts.
“We are working hard on it. As a player, you never go to the field to stuff up or anything. You always go to do your best.
“Unfortunately, you are not playing against robots, but against a team. The aim is to do well in your lineouts, but things happen on the field.
“JD (Schickerling) has added a lot to our lineout. Having him and guys like Ruben (van Heerden) and Adré (Smith) there helps a lot.
“You get that sense of relief as a hooker when they are in the team.”