Stormers coach Alister Coetzee will be scratching his head a little as he looks to find a set of fit locks to take on the Reds this weekend.
Both Andries Bekker (the ideal guy for an “away game”) and Eben Etzebeth were forced to leave the field during the first half of the loss to the Crusaders, with lower back and shoulder problems respectively. it sounds as though both would be in serious doubt for the match in Brisbane this weekend, with Rynhardt Elstadt and De Kock Steenkamp likely to be named as replacements in the starting side.
Exactly what Coetzee plans to do for a reserve lock, though, remains to be seen, with only four loose forwards in the touring squad as is. Talk that Quinn Roux may be summoned to join the tour appears to have been premature, but there may yet be an SOS-call sent out if neither Bekker nor Etzebeth recovers in time to play some role this weekend.
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Losing Bekker and Etsebeth will be a massive, massive blow for the Stormers.
Will Cooper be back for the Reds this weekend? 😈
Ouch! Two locks in one go
Etzebeth should be fit to play.
He and Elstadt should start with De Kock on the bench.
Koster to return to the starting XV. 😎
@wpw (Comment 4) : thanks…. guess I wrote my article too early 🙂
Put in a phone call to Matfield! 😉
@wpw (Comment 4) : I’m not worried about Etsebeth, what is the news on Bekker – he is in my FL squad 😉
In news just in Quinn Roux is flying to AUS as cover for the injured Bekker!! 😎
@wpw (Comment 4) : In all seriousness I am glad that Etsebeth is fit to play, I think he is going to continue to grow as a player and that can only be good for the Boks.
@lostfish (Comment 7) :
hehe
Bekker is definitely out of the Reds game. Not sure just how long though!! 😕
One imagines that it would take a tractor falling on him to stop Etzebeth playing.
@wpw (Comment 8) : you are so connected…. wish you’d write more articles for us 🙁
@Big Fish (Comment 11) : Or a Redcard.