Why Wandisile Simelane could get another crack at 13 for the Stormers

The Stormers’ win over Bristol Bears did more than add another result to their season. It also gave Wandisile Simelane a reminder of where he might fit in the squad, with coach John Dobson saying the versatile back deserves more rugby and could get another opportunity at outside centre next week.

Simelane was not originally in the match 23 for the Investec Champions Cup game at Cape Town Stadium, but a late calf injury to skipper Ruhan Nel changed the picture. Nel withdrew before kick-off, Paul de Villiers stepped in as captain, and Simelane was promoted to start at 13.

That outing matters because centre is the position Simelane appears to want most, even though he has been used in a few different roles. Dobson noted that he can cover fullback, has been on the bench on the wing and handled contestable kicks last week. In other words, the Stormers value his flexibility, but they also seem aware that versatility can sometimes keep a player moving around the field instead of settling in one spot.

Dobson’s comments point to a broader selection idea he calls the “critical path”. In plain terms, it means planning the season in advance so players know when they will sit out, when they will bench and when they will start. The coach said that if the Stormers can give Simelane a clear idea of when his chances are coming, everyone should know where they stand.

The immediate opening is helped by the fact that Nel is expected to miss at least a week, which rules him out of next Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash against the Scarlets in Cape Town. That creates a gap in midfield, and it may give Simelane another run in the number 13 shirt.

Dobson also made it clear that this is not about making sweeping changes after one match. He said there will be no wholesale overhaul before and including the 31 October fixture against Ulster. Instead, the Stormers want to keep the structure intact while managing individual workloads.

That workload issue is important for several of the squad’s senior names. Dobson said players like De Villiers, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse will need rest before the November international break. He also pointed out that Ruan is 35 and cannot play every game, which is one reason the team needs a plan for when different players rotate in and out.

The Stormers also adjusted other parts of the team for the Bristol game. Wilco Louw was absent from the front row, while Evan Roos returned at number eight for his first appearance of the 2026-27 season after Hacjivah Dayimani suffered concussion. Those changes underline the point Dobson is making: the squad is being managed with a long view, not just picked week by week without reference to what comes next.

For Simelane, that could be encouraging. He made 15 starts in 22 club appearances last season across all competitions, and he has already featured off the bench in the Stormers’ first three games of the current campaign. Dobson’s latest remarks suggest the coach sees enough value in him to keep giving him chances, especially when the team needs a centre and when the schedule allows for a proper rotation plan.

So while Saturday’s match was a team win, it may also have been a useful step for a player looking for a steadier role. If the Stormers stick to the path Dobson described, Simelane could soon get another chance to show that 13 is more than just an emergency position for him.