Stormers centre Ruhan Nel is delighted to be back for Saturday’s Vodacom URC clash against the Bulls at Loftus. LINDIZ VAN ZILLA reports.
Nel returns to the starting lineup after a frustrating spell on the sidelines and also takes over the captaincy duties.
“It feels very good,” he said on Friday. “It’s been a frustrating couple of months, but it’s great to be back with the team. To come back in a game like this, you couldn’t ask for better. I’m really excited.”
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The 34-year-old suffered a calf tear in mid-December that was initially expected to sideline him briefly, but complications delayed his return.
“The initial plan after the calf tear was only a couple of weeks,” he explained. “But during the captain’s run before the Leicester Tigers game [in mid-January] it didn’t react well and that set me back again.
“During the reconditioning block the calf healed up, but then my right achilles started giving problems. It’s what they call a paratenon injury, where you build up inflammation around the tendon.
“The tricky part is that to recover you need to deload, but to stay fit you have to load. That’s where the frustration came in because you feel good, but as soon as you get onto the field you can’t run.”
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Watching from the sidelines as the Stormers struggled in recent derby defeats made the situation even tougher.
“Any injured player feels like he could add something to the team,” said Nel. “When you’re not part of the match 23 you sit at home wishing you could help.
“We all see the hours of work that go into preparation during the week, so when the results don’t come, it’s tough not being able to contribute.”
Now back in the fold and ready to take the field, Nel insists his focus is simply on doing his job rather than trying to overplay his hand.
“I’ve never been a guy who tries to do too much,” he said. “A good team is when everyone understands their role. I know what my strengths are and if I stick to those, it can’t go wrong.”
Taking over the captaincy again is another responsibility he embraces.
“It’s always a massive honour and privilege to captain the Stormers,” Nel said. “But we’ve got a strong leadership group. There are guys like Damian Willemse, JD Schickerling and others who have all led before.
“It’s not a one-man show. It’s a group effort, and I’m really excited to be back and hopefully do a good job for the team.”
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Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
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