John Dobson has doubled down on the Stormers’ controversial decision to bring in Bongi Mbonambi, insisting the 35-year-old Springbok carries no baggage from his Sharks exile whilst revealing the hooker crisis gripping his squad is far worse than initially feared. The Cape Town coach painted a grim picture of his injury list on Wednesday, with two key hookers facing months on the sidelines and forcing the franchise into emergency mode.

Also read: Stormers reportedly look to Mbonambi as hooker nightmare deepens

Mbonambi arrived at the Stormers this week amid swirling reports of disciplinary issues in Durban and has been parachuted straight onto the replacements bench for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash against Ulster at Cape Town Stadium. It’s a rapid integration born from desperation rather than planning.

And Dobson didn’t sugarcoat the severity of the situation.

“We could have gone through this week with Altus [Rabe], Scarra [Ntubeni] and Vernon [Paulo], but Venter has a long-term injury. The best-case scenario is two months,” Dobson revealed. “If they do have to go in and operate, it could be eight or nine months. So, it probably gives a bit more logic to the Bongi situation.”

André-Hugo Venter’s elbow injury represents a hammer blow. Two months minimum is bad enough; eight or nine months if surgery is required borders on catastrophic. Losing your first-choice hooker for the bulk, or potentially all, of the season fundamentally alters squad planning.

But it gets worse.

Fourie facing three-month exile

Deon Fourie, the versatile forward who can cover hooker when required, is also staring down an extended spell on the sidelines. The veteran suffered a Grade 3 hamstring tear against Scarlets.

“Deon has a Grade 3 hamstring injury. He says he’s not feeling it. It doesn’t feel like a Grade 3, which perhaps means we can shorten it to three months,” Dobson said, though his tone suggested scepticism. “But, in my experience, it’s around three months. So, that’s the point. We have two big hookers out. Deon would have covered at hooker this week if he had been fit.”

JJ Kotzé remains suspended following his dangerous tackle against Scarlets the previous week, effectively wiping out the Stormers’ entire first-choice hooking stocks in the space of a fortnight. It’s the stuff of coaching nightmares, and precisely why Mbonambi’s arrival, controversial or not, became inevitable.

No baggage, no long-term deal

Dobson moved swiftly to address the elephant in the room, Mbonambi’s reported disciplinary issues at the Sharks that left him frozen out all season whilst awaiting the outcome of an internal hearing. Reports suggest he breached socialising protocols during a team-building session.

The Stormers coach, however, insists he has zero concerns about bringing the 82-cap Springbok back to Cape Town.

“I worked with Bongi for quite a few years at the Stormers. There were high levels of trust and professionalism,” Dobson noted. “I worked with him in the Barbarians as well. I can’t speak to what happened at the Sharks, but our experience with Bongi has been extremely positive.”

It’s a ringing endorsement from a coach who clearly trusts his previous relationship with the hooker to override whatever drama unfolded in Durban.

He also confirmed Mbonambi hasn’t signed a long-term contract, this is purely crisis management, not a strategic recruitment play.

“It’s not a long-term contract. He’s really coming in as injury cover,” Dobson clarified.

That caveat matters. The Stormers aren’t committing financially or strategically beyond solving their immediate hooker nightmare. If Mbonambi performs, perhaps a longer-term arrangement emerges. If not, both parties can walk away once the injury crisis eases.

Saturday’s test

Mbonambi’s inclusion on the bench for Saturday’s Ulster clash represents the first real test of whether this marriage of convenience can work. The Stormers need bodies in specialist positions. Hooker is one of them.

With Venter potentially out for the season, Fourie facing three months on the sidelines and Kotzé suspended, Dobson had little choice. Calling up a retired Scarra Ntubeni and relying on Currie Cup youngster Altus Rabe to navigate the URC’s brutal schedule isn’t sustainable.

Mbonambi brings 82 caps, World Cup experience and a set-piece mastery that could stabilise a squad reeling from injuries. Dobson is backing his judgement and previous relationship with the Springbok. Saturday will offer the first glimpse of whether that gamble pays off.