Stormers coach John Dobson will have two of his Springbok props available for the early part of the new Vodacom URC season.

According to reports, Neethling Fouche, who made his Test debut against Georgia in July and also played in the non-cap match against the Barbarians, is set to be available for selection for the Stormers’ opener against Leinster in Cape Town on 26 September.

New signing Ntuthuko Mchunu, who transferred from the Sharks, should be fit and ready by the time the Cape side start their European tour.

Both missed Friday night’s pre-season match against the Sharks as they continue recovering from injury, while veteran loosehead Ali Vermaak is also still out injured.

The future of Stormers rugby was on show on Friday night, with Zachary Porthen, Vernon Matongo and Oliver Reid being used to anchor the scrum.

Dobson says the set piece will continue to be a big focus for them this season.

“We have a strong scrumming culture,” he told Rapport. “Kitsie [Steven Kitshoff] and Frans [Malherbe] helped build that.

“We won several scrum penalties last season with Neethling and Ali. Two seasons ago we won the most scrum penalties, and last season we won the second most.

“Scrumming remains an important part of our game, and we want to continue building on that.

This would ensure strength against strength, without the situation we are now in where the WP, Sharks, Bulls and Lions have to cope without their best players in the Currie Cup, which has degenerated into only a development competition.

“In a Currie Cup final, you want to see the best against the best in action and no one or nothing can be blamed for that, except the current structure of world rugby,” Botha added.

“The rugby bosses need to seriously consider what is best for rugby as a whole and, if that involves a global season, make that decision. For the sake of rugby.”