A homecoming to the Cape for Sikhumbuzo Notshe now that he has been released from the Hollywoodbets Sharks would have a nice feel to it, as it was out of Wynberg Boys High that the Springbok launched his rugby career.
However DHL Stormers coach John Dobson, who has walked a long road with the now 31-year-old No 8 and counts him as a personal friend, doesn’t believe there is place at the Stormers for another looseforward, even though a Notshe on top form would be a good fit for the gap left by Hacjivah Dayimani should Dayimani sign up to go to France.
Dobson said that he had been concerned during the course of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship season and the EPCR campaign that there were several quality looseforwards on his books that did not get the game time they should need and demand. And while it has been rumoured that both Nama Xaba and Junior Pokomela might be being sought by the Vodacom Bulls, Dobson feels he wouldn’t be able to offer Notshe the game time he needs to make it back to the international level he was at in his first season at the Sharks.
“The one thing about this season is that we’ve probably been a bit overstocked at looseforward. So some guys didn’t get the game time they wanted,” said Dobson before the Stormers flew out to Glasgow for Saturday night’s URC quarterfinal against the Glasgow Warriors at the Scotstoun.
“Willie (Engelbrecht) and Junior both dropped a lot of game time. We actually need to be a bit thinner there. So it is unlikely (that we will be able to find a place for Notshe).”
