Stormers legend Frans Malherbe poised to earn 150th cap on Saturday

It's rare for a player to represent one team for their entire professional rugby career, especially one that reaches 150 caps as Frans Malherbe is poised to do on Saturday.

A product of Bredasdorp and Paarl Boys High, Malherbe first trained with the Stormers senior squad in his first year out of school in 2010. He was part of a golden generation of players who would all make their names with the Stormers and go on to represent their country with much success.

That Western Province U19 side of 2010 also included the likes of Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Nizaam Carr, Damian de Allende and the only other Stormers centurion never to have played for another team - Scarra Ntubeni.

Another remarkable aspect of Malherbe's early career was how he stamped his authority in a position that is usually dominated by more experienced players. It has been said that the first name on any teamsheet should be the tighthead prop and the second should be the replacement tighthead.

Malherbe made his Stormers debut in 2011 and would go on to represent the Springboks in 2013 at the age of just 22. Since then he has been ever-present in the front row for both teams, renowned as a powerful scrummager who works incredibly hard around the park and has a deep tactical understanding of the game.

He brought up his Stormers century in early 2020 against the Bulls at a packed Newlands, just weeks before the world went into lockdown.

He now stands poised to become the second player (and second prop after Brok Harris) to play 150 games for the Stormers when he runs out for a United Rugby Championship derby against the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

For the understated Malherbe, while he will cherish the milestone once the game is done, his full focus will be on delivering a quality performance for his team. As it has been for 149 matches before this one.

"I didn't think back in 2011, when I first played for the Stormers after first being part of the squad the year before, that I would be playing my 149th game.

"I can remember my 100th which was at Newlands, and that was a memorable experience. It is great to be playing my 150th at another iconic stadium (Emirates Airline Park) in a very tough game. It is important though that I focus on the game and not the milestone.

"There is also a fine line between feeling very proud and then actually focusing on the game. I say this in a good and positive way, it is just another game. If you make it all about yourself you fall into the trap of not focusing enough on the game," he explained.

For a player to stay loyal to the team he supported as a boy for a career of nearly 15 years is remarkable, but Malherbe gives credit to those who stood by him and gave him the opportunity to keep living out his dream.

"I can't take all the credit for the fact that I am still here, credit must also be given to the chances I was offered to stay here,

"You can say it is loyalty that kept me here so long, but I really can't take that credit myself. Both the Stormers and SA Rugby gave me alternative options (to going overseas), and they were good options that made it possible for me to stay. That is the reason why I am one of those privileged guys who can still play at this stage of my career for the team that I supported when I was a kid," he added.

Malherbe turned in an impressive performance in the nailbiting clash with the Bulls at DHL Stadium last week, scoring one try and giving the scoring pass to fullback Warrick Gelant for another, which underlined his value as far more than just a powerhouse up front.

There haven't been many of them so it is easy for me to add them up, I think that was my fifth try (for the Stormers).

"When it comes to my pass to Warrick, sometimes us props do find ourselves there in the middle suddenly with the ball in your hands and when that happens it is just important to keep a cool head and not to think you can get through (by yourself) because if you do that you will definitely get chased down. So I was just pleased to get the ball to Warrick," he said with a smile.

Malherbe is not the type to draw attention to himself or his achievements, but the rest of us can do just that as we reflect on what has been a remarkable career from one of the greatest Stormers to ever wear the blue and white jersey.

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