Debutant Markus Muller was roared onto the field by the Stormers faithful, a moment coach John Dobson described as “special”.
At 18 years, nine months and 19 days, the midfielder became the youngest-ever player for the Stormers when he came on against the Glasgow Warriors at Cape Town Stadium with 14 minutes to go.
“That noise was so cool,” Dobson said. “It makes me proud of the crowd because it shows they’re informed and enthusiastic. It was brilliant.
“He’s the happiest kid. I think his hand is sore but he’s the happiest kid in the world down there at the moment.”
DOBBO: Focused Stormers stuck to plan
Dobson admitted he wanted to introduce Muller earlier.
“Personally, I would have liked to give him five or 10 minutes more. But we were down to one back at one stage, so we just didn’t have the flexibility.”
Despite limited time, Muller impressed with his composure.
“He didn’t have much ball in hand, but his defence was really, really good. He stayed alive in the system and handled it well,” Dobson noted.
WATCH: Muller on Stormers debut
The coach emphasised the need to back young talent.
“It’s important for us to show there’s a pathway. If you come through the system, you’ll get an opportunity,” he said. “That’s critical for what we’re building.”
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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