Springbok and DHL Stormers Lock Salmaan Moerat will bring up his 50th Cap for the DHL Stormers on Saturday at the DHL Stadium against the Emirates Lions.
The 26 -year-old who hails from Paarl in the Western Cape has had a tough time with injuries during his career but has shown some amazing resilience, grit and determination to always bounce back.
He recently captained the Springboks in 2024 on 3 occasions and this past Saturday made a good return from injury, when he got through a full 80 minutes against the Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop in the Investec Champions Cup.
Moerat made his debut for the DHL Stormers back in 2018 against the Highlanders in Dunedin during the Super Rugby Competition when he was just 21years old. He became Captain of The DHL Stormers for the very first time in 2021 during the United Rugby Championship.
He was also part of that DHL Stormers side who succeeded in winning the Inaugural United Rugby Championship Season in June 2022.
Moerat is very highly rated and respected by his fellow players and peers. Director of Rugby John Dobson, believes Moerat is a special player and a generational leader who always leads from the front.
The DHL Stormers have started very slowly this season and are under pressure to turn their campaign around. Moerat comes back at a time when his leadership, experience and special qualities are very much needed to help the side get back to winning ways. The DHL Stormers are hoping to still make the playoffs in both respective competitions (United Rugby Championship and Investec Champions Cup).
This Summer Series of rugby is taking place at the DHL stadium in December/January period with two local South African Derbies against the Emirates Lions on the 21st and the Sharks on the 28th. This will be followed by the Investec Cup clash against the Sale Sharks from England in the New year on the 11 th January.
In the context of the season, these 3 games are make or break for the DHL Stormers and might determine how far they go or how much further down they will sink on the table.
On The Journey Getting to 50 Caps
It took much longer than I expected but it’s been a tough road with injuries and I’m extremely grateful for the journey that I have had”. “It’s a very special occasion to play 50 caps for the DHL Stormers I never thought it would be possible as a younger Salmaan but very excited to get stuck in this weekend.
Getting Through This Past Weekend’s Game and Making a Return From Injury
I got through 80 minutes and the knee is really good but I think when it got to the 50th minute I was really huffing and puffing but I’m really content and really happy to have gotten the 80 minutes under the belt. Now it’s just about chipping away and trying to get my form back but I’m pleased with how I went apart from one or two mistakes, talk about a kick that I made which I wasn’t really happy about but it’s all a learning curve.
It’s been a rough journey for me but you can’t really put your finger on it as to why all the injuries happens but anyone who believes in a higher power or some sort of faith believes everything happens for a reason and I’m grateful for the year that I have actually had and you know with the springboks as captain and getting caps it has been successful as well so I’m really happy with all these milestones in my career.
The Challenge of Taking the Lions and The Forward Battle
On Saturday we are expecting a tough battle upfront, the lions have been building the past couple of years really nicely and I think they a well settled team, their pack is nice and mobile as well so the game will be fast and furious and I’m very excited for it. Their scrum has always been known to be good so we expecting a good battle upfront in that department.
The Summer Series of Rugby and How Crucial it is For The DHL Stormers
As a group we have spoken and looked at the next 2 games against the sharks and lions in the United rugby championship games and if you at the log position from position 8th to 13 th where we are currently there is only 7 points separating all those teams so for us to be playing well in this next of couple games and get the wins and if we can get a bonus point as well that will be great so the next 2 games are crucially important for us and its kind of a make or break for our Season.
Salmaan Moerat is no doubt a special rugby player that comes from a great Moerat family of rugby players and has a huge legacy to follow. He certainly has the potential to get to 100 caps for the DHL Stormers in the future and play for many years and seasons to come with the Springboks.
It would not be a big surprise, if he is the next Springbok captain at the upcoming Rugby World cup 2027 down under in Australia and if he stays injury free, looks after his body and reaches his full potential as a complete full rounded No4 Modern Day Lock.
What Moerat needs is consistency in his performances for the DHL Stormers in the United Rugby Championship so that he can feature regularly for the Springboks. In order for that to happen he needs to be playing regularly for the next 2 seasons with the team from start to finish without any niggles, injuries or any disruptions. He also needs to put in dominating performances or man of the matches performances to stamp his mark, this will be key for him going forward.
Confidence, however is paramount for him; he must psychologically get over all his injuries (2 Major injuries to neck and knee) which has definitely affected him. Time is definitely on Moerat’s side and if he is supported, backed, nurtured and continues to be shown the ropes from coaches John Dobson and Rassie Erasmus, he will become that superstar player that we all know from school boy rugby at Craven Week.
