The Stormers’ injury woes – particularly in the second row – continue to worsen as De Kock Steenkamp becomes the latest injury casualty on tour. So dire is the situation at lock that Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has been forced to replace the Cape Town-bound Steenkamp with a centre, in fit-again Juan de Jongh.
Jaco Taute is the other confirmed casualty after the weekend loss in Hamilton; the fullback’s AC joint is playing up and while he won’t return home, the injury will keep him out of this weekend’s game against the Brumbies.
Mike Rhodes and Frans Malherbe, though, should both come into the selection frame after injuries limited their involvement against the Chiefs.
Tweet
Surely this points to a problem with preseason conditioning?
They want to try Duane Vermuelen at lock 🙁
I would of poached Edwin Hewitt by now, who I believe is playing great rugby in our Vodacom side and was a great contributor at the death for us in CC last year
@stevovo (Comment 3) : Im sure the ink on his Sharks contract is still wet
Ive heard some worrying reports that PSDTs injury was the worst the knee specialist had ever seen. Borderline career threatening in fact is what was said.
I hope this is wrong but it comes from a pretty reputable source.
@John Galt (Comment 5) : There are still no guarantees with an ACL reconstruction…all depends how well an individuals body heals and its a long rehab road.
@John Galt (Comment 5) : Any idea what happened? Did it happen in a contact session?
@Pokkel (Comment 7) :
Not exactly sure what happened or how I just have heard that the extent of the injury is pretty dire.
As said earlier Hewitt is far better than Jake’s boy. An lets us not get ahead of ourselves, the sharks might need him still. He has S15 experience and played well at that. Remember the lock situation last year?
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 2) : that will b a waste
@Observer (Comment 9) : must say I rate Peet higher than both of them, but he needs game time.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 2) : @pierre_mackie (Comment 10) : if they need locks so badly why is Wilhelm van der Sluis playing Varsity cup?
Hewitt has signed for Biarritz in France
@RealDirtyShark (Comment 13) : oh has he? Good result, I’d say. Any idea when he’s going?
Also, is it true Hansie is going to the Kings?
Hewitt would be silly to sign for Biarritz. They sitting at the bottom of the Top 14 and will get relegated! All the decent Biarritz players will be cherry picked by the more wealthy clubs. Can’t imagine Eugene van Staden or Joe Pietersen sticking around.
@slammerboy (Comment 15) : better than playing Vodacom Cup for the Sharks