Life without magical Manie Libbok at No 10 could be tougher for Stormers than what they are prepared for
Image: PHANDO JIKELO Independent Media
Comment by Leighton Koopman
Whenever Manie Libbok pulls on a Stormers jersey, magic is bound to happen on the rugby field.
However, his departure from the Stormers – confirmed in a video by the Cape side – to Japan is not just the end of a brilliant chapter of his rugby career in the Mother City.
But it could also end up in a flyhalf crisis for the team in the United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup.
For a franchise that rebuilt itself around flair, unpredictability and a free-flowing attacking game-plan when they nearly went bankrupt, losing the conductor of that orchestra is more than just a setback; it is a massive blow to their ambitions of winning titles in the future.
Thanks for all you gave us. Always a part of us. 💙🩶 pic.twitter.com/lrqwFoIqZg — DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) June 23, 2025
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Let's be blunt: the Stormers' attacking identity doesn't function without a flyhalf who can pull the strings and improvise on the attack.
Libbok isn't just any No 10, though.
He has been at the forefront of their resurgence since joining from the Bulls and Sharks, two franchises that failed to unlock the full potential of his talent.
At the Stormers, he flourished, and there is a simple reason for that: the Cape side embraced his strengths and built their model around how he plays, not the other way around. Now, with Libbok exiting, the system may collapse.
Manie Libbok expected to be announced by Kintetsu Liners pretty soon. #rugbyjp #SaffasAbroad pic.twitter.com/5xdYGEVyGi — Darren (@SaffasRugby) June 24, 2025
Libbok's ability is rare and when harnessed properly, he is a title-winning flyhalf on any given day.
He steps off his right and left foot, and his passing game is sublime – whether to the left or right of the field, he has world-class vision on the attack even in pressure situations.
He doesn't just run plays – he reads the game in real time, and almost bends it to his will when on song. Replacing that will be difficult, and it was evident when he was injured last season.
Newbie Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is promising, and no doubt the future of the Stormers.
However, he's raw, and it was clear in the Cape side's flat performance in the URC quarter-finals against the Glasgow Warriors recently.
End of an era in Cape Town. 💔
The Stormers confirm nine player exits, including URC-winning pivot Manie Libbok! Reports link him to Japan's Liners.
Best of luck, Manie!#Stormers #AllThingsRugby pic.twitter.com/PRUXnXyStL — All Things Rugby (@AllThingsRugbyX) June 23, 2025
He failed to spark his side, and only when Libbok entered the fray as the flyhalf did the team look better.
If Feinberg-Mngomezulu is the heir apparent, he will need time.
But time is a luxury that the Stormers don't necessarily have in the extremely competitive European rugby competitions.
Worst of all, Feinberg-Mngomezulu is injury-prone, and should he go down again for an extended period, they will be in real trouble with Libbok away.
Other options in the squad, like Jurie Matthee, lack Libbok's instinctive flair and resilience, especially under pressure.
Remember the 2022 URC campaign?
Libbok didn't just step up, he owned the biggest stage, and that took his career to another level. Not many players can do that.
Stormers director of rugby John Dobson built the team model on movement, unpredictability and creative offloads – hot-potato rugby, as some call it.
Without a dynamic pivot to link the backs and forwards and dictate their transition from defence to attack, the model will feel it.
Losing that impetus could see the team take a more structured and conservative approach with other flyhalves, except maybe Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
That is not what supporters would want to see. They want the flair, the fast-paced action and the fun that sets the team apart from other sides.
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