Canadian to play for Stormers
by Gavin Rich 09 May 2012, 12:38
Canada No 8 Jebb Sinclair has been included on the DHL Stormers bench for Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby clash against the Toyota Cheetahs at Newlands.
The London Irish loose-forward has been released to the Stormers on loan. He arrived in Cape Town on an overnight flight from London and went straight to training at the Western Province High Performance Institute on Wednesday.
“As you know we needed players because of the injuries to the loose-forwards,” said coach Allister Coetzee in explaining the move.
“As you know we wanted Francois Louw, but the deal never came off. We also wanted Jebb as we do need a specialist No 8. Our only fit genuine No 8 at the moment is Nizaam Carr, who is a player with great potential and promise. But after that we have Nick Fenton-Wells playing No 8 for the WP Vodacom Cup side, and he is an openside flank.
“Jebb played all the games for Canada in last year’s World Cup. So he has played at a high level before, and that was crucial in opting for Jebb. We have lost a lot of experience in the form of Duane Vermeulen now that he is out injured and we needed someone who has experience of top level rugby.”
Sinclair has been in good form in England for London Irish and will offer the extra lineout option that the Stormers lost with the injury to Vermeulen.
“I don’t think he will have too much trouble slotting in. We have done it before (selecting guys in from outside at short notice), and you will recall Matt Toomua played for us on loan from the Brumbies a few years ago and we also had Schalk Brits play for us at short notice in last year’s Super Rugby quarterfinal.”
Coetzee said that Sinclair would go back to play for Canada during the June break for the international tour window and return to the Stormers at the resumption of Super Rugby in July.
“The only thing he cannot do is play in the playoffs, but that is okay as by then we should have Schalk Burger, Duane and Nick Koster coming back from injury,” said Coetzee.
