Bok Star Cobus Reinach ready for Stormers debut with 'fire still burning'

Reinach, who was given a brief rest following the Rugby Championship, is poised to make his Stormers debut from the bench in Saturday's United Rugby Championship clash with Benetton in Treviso.

The World Cup-winning Bok is back in South Africa after more than seven years abroad in England and France and brings with him his extensive knowledge of European conditions.

At 35, Reinach brings over a decade of elite experience and fresh momentum from his recent exploits with the Springboks, where the seasoned scrumhalf somewhat unexpectedly emerged as the first-choice No 9 for much of South Africaâ™s victorious Rugby Championship campaign.

Reinach's introduction in the latter stages of Saturday's clash against Benetton should provide a massive injection of experience, pace and intent as the Stormers aim to extend their unbeaten start to the season.

"It's been a treat to have him," Dobson said on Friday. "He's a character, he's a professional and he's been fully engaged since before joining us. He was in touch weeks ago asking about detail and how we want to play.

"He's not here just to mentor the younger guys. He's still a top-class player and a proper athlete. He was Man of the Match in the Boks' last game - that tells you the level he's at. He wants to play for a few more years, he wants to win trophies and he's come in really excited.

"It's definitely not a case of him seeing out his career. We want him on the field as a strike force."

Captain Ruhan Nel was in full agreement.

"He's so energetic and keen to get involved. Scrumhalves are a special breed - and he brings so much energy and experience.

"What's impressed me most is how much he wants to understand how we do things - the mindset, the systems, where he can contribute. We just want to get him on the field and let him go."

When Reinach joined the Stormers at the start of the year, he spoke about his excitement at returning to South African rugby and linking up with a team whose attacking style suited his own game.

"It will obviously be great for my family and me to return home, but what is just as exciting for me is to join a team playing such a great brand of rugby," he said.

"I know a lot of the Stormers players well and I feel that I have a lot to offer within their game model."

Meanwhile, Dobson also explained the decision to rest flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, which forms part of a wider plan to manage the Stormers squad over the course of the season.

"He's been on the go since before the Argentina Test, then the Rugby Championship and then our three-week tour. It would have been nearly two and a half months away from home.

"He's got some admin and niggles to sort out back in Cape Town, so this was the right time to give him a break. We'll need him later in the season when Damian isn't available."

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