Latest news with #Manie
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Stormers chasing a precious point in URC against Cardiff
The Stormers need just a point in their URC match against Cardiff to ensure they finish in the top seven on the log. Stormers centre Dan du Plessis is back in the starting lineup against Cardiff after recently returning from injury with a few showing off the bench in recent games. Picture: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images The Stormers are aiming to secure at least one point from their final United Rugby Championship (URC) pool match against Cardiff at the Cape Town Stadium on Friday night (kick-off 7pm). Director of Rugby John Dobson admitted that they were gunning for the win, but if they slipped up they had to make sure they secure a losing or try scoring bonus point, which would ensure that they couldn't finish lower than seventh on the URC log. Currently the Stormers are fifth on the log, and if they win against Cardiff as expected they will secure that position, which would see them face either Glasgow Warriors in Scotland or the Sharks in Durban in the quarterfinals. With Glasgow up against Leinster in their final pool match, it is likely that they will lose and slip to fourth, below the Sharks who are expected to beat Scarlets and move up to third. Playoff permutations If that were to pan out it means the Stormers would face Glasgow if they finish fifth, the Sharks if they finish sixth and maybe even the Bulls if they drop to seventh, but they want to avoid at all costs dropping to eighth which would send them off to Dublin. 'We absolutely have to get a point out of the game. Obviously we want far more but we talked about it, and don't want to run the risk of finishing eighth. It's going to be a little bit like a knockout game, not that we designed it like that,' said Dobson during the team announcement on Thursday. 'We're still going to go for the quickest way of making sure we're not finishing eighth, and that's getting the four tries, isn't it? But we're also not going to let a team beat us by more than seven, that's for sure.' The reason for Dobson's hesitation in saying they will secure a win, is that the team has made 10 changes to the starting 15 from their thumping win over Dragons last weekend, and that could see them struggle to gel initially. Returning stalwarts Although star players like Evan Roos and Warrick Gelant have been rested, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will play off the bench, they have had the luxury of bringing in players such as returning Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok, Neethling Fouche, and Dan du Plessis amongst others. 'Losing momentum is a concern and there is a risk to doing what we are doing (against Cardiff) and I am a bit worried about that,' admitted Dobson. 'Also because the team is in such a good space. We have been really consistent over the last few games. But, for example, we do have to play Manie. We'd like to have kept Sacha's innings going and keep that flow going, but the fact is that if Sacha gets injured ahead of the playoffs, then Manie would not have played at all. 'So Manie has to play, and to control his game time he has to start. It is not like looseforward, where you can cover for a guy if he is injured early in the game. If Sacha started and went down after five minutes, Manie is not ready to play 75 minutes. 'It does worry me a bit (looking ahead to the quarterfinal) as we are in such a nice space, but apart from needing to give players game time, there are also players we feel needed protecting.'
The South African
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Is another top Springbok about to head abroad?
Just recently, Bulls coach Jake White hit out at the increasingly commonplace practice of top players – and numerous Springboks – taking up sabbaticals in Japan rather than remaining committed to their local clubs. 'We talk a lot about bringing players through, but our job is not to find youngsters and pay their 'school fees' by putting them in big games and then handing them over to other clubs to become rock stars,' he commented. 'We're not in that industry. We're in a country where rugby is important and winning is important.' White's comments were in relation to Kurt-Lee Arendse, who has missed the bulk of this season while on 'sabbatical' in Japan. It is of course a cash-rich market where superstars like Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe, Faf de Klerk, Damian de Allende, Malcom Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Lood de Jager – among many others – have plied their trade for quite some time. Stormers and Springbok star Manie Libbok has now been widely linked with a permanent move to Japanese club Kintetsu Liners next season, which comes after earlier reports of a sabbatical. 'With Manie, there's been talk of a sabbatical,' Stormers coach John Dobson commented recently. 'I suppose the first conversation was to get him back on the field [after his knee injury] and then have a chat to him,' said Dobson. 'I don't want to sit here and say, 'Manie's definitely staying.' It's tricky… You're not going to say [no] if Manie has a chance to change his life financially… He's done so much good for us, been a big part of this franchise, the success we've had over the last few years. 'I don't think we'll say no to that. We haven't yet sat with Manie, his agent and said 'let's try and work out a plan'.' Meanwhile, another Springbok on the Stormers' books, BJ Dixon, is also said to be looking at a move overseas in the midst of a release clause dispute with the Cape franchise that is heading for arbitration. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Stormers to engage in contract discussions with Manie Libbok amid talks of Japan switch
Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok and the Stormers must still talk about his future after reports linked him with a sabbatical in Japan next season. Image: BackpagePix The Stormers are still to sit and talk with flyhalf Manie Libbok to work out a plan around his contract with the playmaker set for a stint in Japan next season. Firstly, they wanted the World Cup winner to get back on the field after a knee injury kept him out of action the last couple of months because they will definitely push on his button during the United Rugby Championship (URC) playoffs. They qualified for the knockouts on Saturday evening after dispatching the Dragons 48-12 in a wet but exciting duel at the DHL Stadium. Although Libbok's contract runs until 2027 with the Cape side, director of rugby John Dobson said on Saturday he couldn't say that Manie is 'definitely staying' in the Mother City. The flyhalf, who spearheaded the Stormers' inaugural URC victory, is linked with the Kintetsu Liners. There are rumours that he might make it a permanent move instead of just a sabbatical. 'The first conversation was to get him back on the field (playing) and then have a chat with him,' Dobson said about the situation. 'I don't want to sit here and say he is definitely staying. There was a chance of him going on a sabbatical, but it's tricky. We gave Adré Smith his sabbatical and it allows him to earn money that could change his life and extend with the Stormers at a rate that we can afford. Our model of ownership is a little different from the other big franchises. 'Manie has been a big part of the success of our team over the last few years, and we don't want to say no to it. We haven't sat with Manie and his agent to work out a plan. He is signed until 2027.' With Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu coming to the fore as the Stormers' flyhalf in the injury-absence of Libbok, another spanner is put in the works. Should the experienced Libbok stay, it will be tough for Dobson and his fellow coaches looking at the flyhalf selection. They have avoided that conundrum because both playmakers haven't been fit at the same time this season. But, from next season, it could become a proper headache. For any coach, though, that would be one of the better headaches. If the Cape side are to challenge for glory in the URC and Champions Cup in 2026, they would need both players available. Sending Libbok on a sabbatical will lighten the load on their wage bill, though. Dobson said Libbok will come into the mix for Friday's final round-robin clash against Cardiff to get him battle-ready for the playoffs. He also added that the contractual issue with Springbok flanker Ben-Jason Dixon should be sorted, and he is convinced that Dixon will be staying on at the Stormers. 'There is a technicality in his contract that we couldn't get agreement on. BJ's personality is to give 100% for the Stormers. He is a quality oke. It's a pity that things have gone this far and things have sort of been washed in public.'
