Skinstad continues comeback
by Sportal's Andrew Koopman
January 30, 2001

After making it through the weekend's Sevens World Cup in Argentina without a hitch, Bob Skinstad will continue his comeback trail when he comes off the Stormers substitutes' bench in the friendly against the Eagles on Friday night.

Stormers coach Alan Solomons on Tuesday said he was happy with what he has seen of Skinstad in Mar del Plata. "The goal for Bob was to become involved in contact and return from the Sevens unscathed. So from that perspective I was happy.

"On Friday I intend giving him 10 to 20 minutes. He's got to be bled in at this stage and I feel it's the correct way to do it," the coach said.

Skinstad hurt his knee in a car accident and hasn't played since the World Cup semifinal against Australia in November 1999. His successful return to action this weekend is a major boost for the Stormers, who will be hoping his silky running skills will return sooner rather than later. At the Sevens festival, Skinstad was solid rather than spectacular, but that was to be expected after such a long layoff.

Solomons refrained from selecting the national players who toured Argentina and the British Isles at the end of last year, but did include Robbie Fleck and Braam van Straaten on the bench. "I want to give everybody game time in the first two games. The underlying principle in these games is to try and prevent the Test players from additional travelling.

"Their season only finished in mid December and I want to delay the start of their season for as long as possible. By only bringing them in for the game against Boland on February 9 we give them an extra week. That way they don't need to travel to George," the coach explained.

Solomons, who leaves to coach Ulster immediately after the Super 12, said his 30-man squad for the Super 12 is by no means cast in stone. "We've kept 33 players in our squad at all times. Joggie Viljoen, Chean Roux and Johan van Wyk will remain part of the squad and I will review it again on February 15, after the warm-up games."

The coach said nothing should be read into the lock combination of Thys Stoltz and newcomer John Slade for the George game. "I think all the locks must compete for their place, like everybody else in the team. All the locks have been looking good in training.

"Quinton Davids is making good strides in terms of fitness and we are working hard with him. However, at the moment his fitness is way off the level required to play Super 12." Solomons had earlier expressed his concern about the lack of Super 12 experience of the locks in his squad.

The appointment of Roux as captain for the game against the Eagles wasn't a difficult one, Solomons said. "Chean captained Western Province at the start of last year's Currie Cup competition and also led Stellenbosch at the national club championships. So if you look at the team it makes sense, because he has the necessary experience."

Meanwhile, replacement prop Morne van der Merwe is on the doubtful list due to a calf strain. Solomons said the medical team would have a look at the former Eastern Province man on Wednesday. Springbok tighthead Robbie Kempson is on standby.

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