Stormers scrumhalf duel: Rising star Imad Khan stakes claim for Edinburgh clash

With Springbok star Cobus Reinach currently unavailable, the race for the Stormers' starting scrumhalf berth has intensified over the last week, sparking a fascinating contest between the experienced Stefan Ungerer and the precocious talent of Imad Khan.

One of the bright sparks from the recent Dragons clash was the performance of the 22-year-old Khan. Entrusted with the No 9 jersey, the youngster showed glimpses of the flair that has made him a rising star through the levels of Western Province rugby.

Khan was instrumental in two of the Stormers’ tries with his quick thinking close to the Dragons’ goal-line, which saw Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu go over to score after running good support lines.

Stormers attack coach Dawie Snyman was encouraged by the youngster’s impact in a high-pressure United Rugby Championship fixture, saying he will only get better with more gametime.

“I was really chuffed with his game,” said Snyman. “A player like him, the more he is going to play, the better he will become in terms of understanding his game.

“You can train as much as you want, but in the game is where you learn the most. He had some great moments on attack. His kicking game … I thought he overcooked it a little bit, but the rest was spot on.”

As the Stormers prepare for the visit of Edinburgh this weekend, the selection dilemma at halfback remains a key talking point.

While Ungerer offers tactical maturity and a steady hand, Khan’s ability to inject pace and unlock defences with quick thinking suggests that the coaching team will have a lot to ponder this week.