COBUS FOR US

SPRINGBOK scrumhalf Cobus Reinach could make his much-anticipated debut for the Stormers in this weekend’s United Ruby Championship match against Benetton in Treviso, Italy.

Forwards coach Rito Hlungwani revealed that Reinach, rested for the Stormers’ first two tour games, has joined up with the Kaapse span in Italy ahead of Saturday’s clash.

Reinach was given time off after helping the Boks win the Rugby Championship, and to settle into Kaapstad with his wife and children after leaving French club Montpellier at the end of last season.

Although Hlungwani did not reveal whether Reinach will start or play off the bench in Saturday’s game, he said as a Stormers group they are chuffed to have added an experienced head ahead of the game.

The Stormers have never beaten Benetton away from home.

And of how Rienach’s experience boosts their chances of breaking their duck in Treviso, Hlunganwe wysed: “I don’t think any team will  ever complain when you can add that kind of experience.

“It is quite helpful to us, and it is nice to have him around. He is learning about a couple of things that we do differently, but a player of his calibre is able to pick up information quickly, so we are quite happy to have him here.”

Should Reinach make his debut, he is expected to reunite his partnership at Bok level with flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, with Hlungwani telling the Daily Voice the Kapenaars have not yet decided if the Bok No.10 and Damian Willemse will be rested for Saturday’s match.

Hlungwani said: “We obviously have different plans with our Springboks. We make individual plans on who is going to play this game and when do we take a rest.

“It is totally different to how other [South African] teams do it.”