Why return of Schickerling is significant boost for Stormers

He isn’t a decorated Springbok and World Cup-winner like another DHL Stormers returning prodigal son, Steven Kitshoff, but in some ways the acquisition of former second-row stalwart JD Shickerling on a three year deal is as significant.

Just as there have been players who have taken their opportunities since double World Cup-winner Kitshoff left, with the currently injured Sti Sithole, Kwenzo Blose and Lizo Gcoboko set to provide good back-up when the former captain returns in July, so Schickerling will become part of a deep well of solid second-row forwards.

Adre Smith, Salmaan Moerat, Ruben van Heerden, Gary Porter and a few talented youngsters with great promise headed by Conor Evans are on the Stormers books already.

And let’s not forget the prodigiously talented Hendre Stassen, who is out for the rest of the current season with an injury but has shown his massive potential each time he’s got onto the field.

Of course, Stassen can also play loose forward, which is starting to become the specialist position of another player the Stormers can use in the second row if it is needed, and have done so in some games - Ben-Jason Dixon.

Lock JD Schickerling is the latest DHL Stormer to make his return to Cape Town, having signed a three-year deal.

💬 'I'll be doing all I can to bring my part and make an impact for the team'

Read the full story 👉 https://t.co/jS4bZiAt6A#iamastormer #dhldelivers pic.twitter.com/uBrvgvD6gI

— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) April 16, 2024

HE WILL ADD TO THE MAULING GAME

Yet while that is a big pool of second-row forwards, memories of what Schickerling did for the Stormers and Western Province when he played for them between 2016 and 2021, suggests he will bring something the Stormers can do with.

Not only was Schickerling often the fulcrum of the Stormers pack when they had ball in hand and were driving at the opposition, he was also an excellent stopper of opposition mauls.

And that is something the Stormers haven’t always been great at recently, with admittedly strong opposition teams often managing to convert visits into the Stormers 22 too easily.

As an example, think back to the driving maul try the Vodacom Bulls scored before the recent big north/south derby at Loftus had even really got going.

Athletic enough for John Dobson, when he was WP coach, to try him at Currie Cup level on the flank for a few games, Schickerling is one of those immensely powerful players who is recognised as an enforcer can make a massive difference, in every sense of the expression, to any pack he is part of.

He’s not a capped Bok but he probably would have been had he not taken a big money deal to go to Japan in 2021, when he was at the peak of his powers.

He was actually chosen for a Bok tour squad, with that call coming for the end of year tour in 2018, but the Paarl Gimnasium old boy did not get selected for a game so he returned to South Africa still uncapped.

That Schickerling was recognised as a star of the future was underlined with selection for the South African A team, essentially a Bok B team, in 2016 when he was in his first season with the Stormers in Super Rugby.

Before that he played a big role in the South African under-20 (Junior Springbok) side led by Handre Pollard that was only just denied glory in the Junior World Championship in New Zealand in 2014, with Maro Itoje being part of the England team that beat SA in the final.

HE CAME BACK FROM A BROKEN NECK

Of course, no story about Schickerling is complete without mention of the event that may have been the main reason he has yet to fulfil the Bok dream that seemed certain when he was making such waves as a schoolboy in 2012 and 2013 - the broken neck he suffered when playing for WP against the Bulls in an under-21 match in Pretoria in August 2014.

There were naturally doubts then that Schickerling, who by then had already made his senior debut for WP in a Vodacom Cup game against Boland, would ever play again.

However, he returned to rugby 13 months later and not too much more than a year after that he made his debut for the Stormers in Super Rugby.

Schickerling brings extra value to the Stormers by way of being equally home at No 4 or No 5 lock, and at this time when depth is so important due to the South African franchises playing in both the URC and the Investec Champions Cup, the options he will give Dobson cannot be stated enough.

He is good enough to dovetail with Ruben van Heerden as the No 5 lock, so for instance if there is ever a situation where the Stormers have to play a crucial URC game and a big Champions Cup match within a week of each other, Dobson will be able to choose either lock without weakening the team in that position. In this era, being able to do that is crucial.

STILL YOUNG ENOUGH TO BECOME A BOK

Not that Schickerling, who is currently playing for Kubota Spears, will necessarily be uncapped as a Bok for long.

It was understandable he wasn’t selected when in Japan as, unlike players like Kwagga Smith and Faf de Klerk, he went to Japan before he was a Bok, but he will be 29 next month and still has time on his side.

And he should be emboldened by being back in focus at the team he wants to be playing for.

“JD is yet another player who was born and bred here so to have him back in the fold is very exciting,” said Dobson.

“You will not find a more hard working rugby player anywhere and he is someone that will slot right back into our environment without any hassle. Having worked with JD for many years, I know how much this team means to him and we are all looking forward to seeing what he can bring when he pulls on the Stormers jersey again."

Schickerling said in a press release that he and his family are very pleased to be returning home.

“Since leaving three years ago I have kept in touch with a lot of the guys and obviously have followed the Stormers closely,” said Schickerling.

“What they have achieved since then is incredibly impressive and I can’t wait to be part of it again. I will be doing all I can to bring my part and make an impact for the team.”