The Stormers have no concerns about Bongi Mbonambi’s Sharks history and will help accelerate the Springbok’s return to action as he pursues a third World Cup next year.
The 35-year-old is set to play off the bench against Ulster at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, after signing a one-year contract with the Stormers, who he represented between 2015 and 2021 before joining the Sharks.
Mbonambi had been involved in a disciplinary dispute with the Durban-based club over an alleged breach of team rules.
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“It was common knowledge that Bongi’s relationship with the Sharks was coming to an end, and we had a problem at hooker,” Stormers boss John Dobson on how the deal came together.
“I gave Bongi a ring and said, ‘if you do finish with the Sharks, would you be interested in coming to us?’
“There were some other conversations around Bongi’s future over the next few months, and what his aspirations were about getting back into the national team. He said he’d love to.
“The Sharks were good and expedited things, and signed the release so that he could come and play for us. It was just good timing.”
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Dobson said the Sharks “didn’t want to punish Bongi”, and the Stormers did well to have the two-time world champion in Cape Town by Wednesday.
“I worked with Bongi for quite a few years at the Stormers. There were high levels of trust and professionalism. I worked with him in the Baa-Baas as well. I can’t speak to what happened at the Sharks, but our experience with Bongi has been extremely positive.
“It’s not a long-term contract. He’s really coming in as injury cover.”
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Dobson acknowledged Mbonambi hasn’t played a competitive match this season, and that could matter if No 2 Vernon Paulo goes down early on Saturday.
“He’s in good physical shape, but he hasn’t trained,” he said. “That’s why we were so anxious to rush him in, for want of a better phrase.
“We’re going into a three- or four-week break, so if Bongi doesn’t play now, it’s going to be another four or five weeks before he plays again. I don’t think that’s ideal; hookers are diesel. They need to scrum, they need to maul.
“We have to get him back on the field to accelerate that journey.
“His throwing in is no issue whatsoever,” Dobson added. “Scrum time is no issue. Learning our lineout calls is a bit of a challenge.
“He’s one of the best set-piece workers around. We can’t pretend he’s going to blow the lights out with his running game.”
Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
