Stormers will miss Scarra, but Dobson backs replacement hookers to come good against Ulster | Sport

Scarra Ntubeni. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)

• Stormers hooker Scarra Ntubeni will not play this weekend due to injury.
• His coach, John Dobson admitted the injury comes at a time when he was impressed by the player’s new-found game drive.
• Ntubeni’s replacement, according to the coach, will be under pressure, but the team will have to ensure he weathers said pressure.

The Stormers will be without their experienced hooker, Scarra Ntubeni this weekend and coach John Dobson admitted the team will “miss him a lot.”

Speaking to reporters on Friday ahead of their United Rugby Championship (URC) match against Ulster, Dobson revealed that the injury to Ntubeni – which remains undisclosed – is not as bad as first feared.

In Ntubeni’s place comes Chad Solomon with JJ Kotze earning a spot among the replacements.

“We’ll miss Scarra a lot, this whole URC [campaign] he’s gotten better and better,” Dobson said. 

“His general play, defence and detail have all gotten better. I know he (Solomon) gets a hard time, but I was very impressed with Chad in the Currie Cup and we’ll see how he’ll go on Saturday.

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It’s an open secret that there have been a few lineout gremlins creeping into the Stormers’ game. Even the WP Currie Cup side struggled recently.

“We’ve had to do a lot of work on it (lineouts) … Chad is going to feel pressure,” Dobson added.

Solomon is making his first start in the URC while Kotze will make his debut in the competition should he be brought on from the bench.

“We need to ensure we give him really good options, which we are capable of.”

On Ntubeni’s recovery, Dobson said the initial fear was that he would be sidelined for up to six weeks, however, that has been revised to “next week” or “he should be back for the Bulls game”.

“We hope to have him back in the next week or two,” said Dobson.

Kick-off at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday is at 15:00.