The Stormers head into Saturday's URC semifinal against Leinster in Dublin without Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who sustained an ankle injury during last weekend's 44-21 quarterfinal win over Cardiff and faces three months on the sideline. Jurie Matthee steps into the No.10 jersey, and assistant coach Rito Hlungwani is emphatic that the transition will be smooth.
"It is only in the matches that Sacha starts that Jurie is not running with the team," said Hlungwani. "He is involved a lot with the team in every training session and has been with us a long time now and fits very well into our systems. He has never really been out of the team, and he is always ready to step in."
Matthee and Feinberg-Mngomezulu are different players, but the Stormers believe his profile suits the game plan they intend to execute at the Aviva Stadium, where no visiting side has won this season. Matthee delivered a calm, composed half-hour when he replaced Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the Cardiff quarterfinal, including a straight run from inside his own half that created one of the Stormers' six tries.
His track record in pressure situations supports the confidence. He was named man of the match when the Stormers came from behind to beat Benetton in Treviso last October, earned the same award in the away derby win over the Bulls last season, and earlier this year combined effectively with Feinberg-Mngomezulu in a 10/12 partnership to beat the Sharks in Durban.
The Stormers also travel without wing Seabelo Senatla, who was concussed against Cardiff. Within the camp, his absence is regarded as the more disruptive loss — Senatla's pace, aerial threat and role in the contestable kicking battle have no direct replacement in the squad.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu's injury also affects the Springbok calendar. He is expected to miss the start of the Greatest Rivalry Series against the All Blacks, with a return unlikely before the latter stages of that series in late August and early September.