Stormers thinning in backline personnel but not potency ahead of Leinster clash

Stormers head coach John Dobson admitted his team is looking thinner than they’d like in the backline after Ruhan Nel’s absence for family reasons and injuries to Angelo Davids and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

The long-term absence of wing Leolin Zas, who is nearing a return, has also hurt them at outside back, forcing breakthrough youngster Suleiman Hartzenberg to play wing instead of outside centre as planned.

Dobson had prepared to have Hartzenberg front Leinster on Friday night in Dublin in the 13 jersey, but Davids going down in the Currie Cup against the Lions flipped plans upside down.

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The flip side is that Seabelo Senatla is fit to start and Springbok Damian Willemse will slot into No 12 alongside Dan du Plessis (13), with the usual suspects Manie Libbok and Clayton Blommetjies pulling strings from flyhalf and fullback, respectively.

"We’ve not had the room to manoeuvre in the backs that we’d like to, even in the Currie Cup," said Dobson.

"Sacha’s injury changed things for us a little bit. Ruhan not being available, then we lost Angelo Davids and Zas is not quite back; we hope to have him back very soon but he wasn’t going to be ready for this.

"I think that put us under a bit more pressure in the outside backs. Without Zas and Angelo, Suleiman pretty much has to play wing and that means we have to find another 13.

"We had prepared this game for Suleiman to play 13 until Angelo hurt himself at Ellis Park, so that left no choice but Suleiman back to the wing.

"The better plan was to move Dan across than pull [Juan de Jongh] up from the Currie Cup. We’re a little thinner there because Ruhan is one of our 'ysters' over the last