Bok Frans Malherbe is back to face Bulls
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One of the best: Frans Malherbe. Picture: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix
The Stormers are finally ready to unleash “one of the best tightheads in the world”, Frans Malherbe, on the Bulls in Saturday’s north-south derby in Pretoria at 5.05pm.
According to Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani yesterday, Malherbe is one of four World Cup-winning Springboks set to return for the clash at Loftus Versfeld in the United Rugby Championship.
Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse and Deon Fourie have all featured for John Dobson’s manne this season, but Frans’ long-awaited return from a back injury is perfect timing, as the Stormers look to make it 8-0 versus the Bulls in the URC.
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Stand-in No. 3 Neethling Fouche has earned a Bok alignment camp call-up in Malherbe’s absence, and on where both props fit in the mix for this weekend, Hlungwani says: “It’s a good problem to have. It is tough to leave out certain guys, lots of positions are highly competitive.
“But we as the coaches at the end of the day want to select the guys who think will do the job this weekend.
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“The level of competition in our team is quite pleasing and it's nice to have Frans back… highly experienced, probably one of the best tightheads in the world so that will definitely improve us, and push Nettas to improve even more.
“Whether he starts or whether he is on the bench, he’ll have a role to play, and so will Neethling. Having Frans back has been a big boost.”