VIDEO: Moerat faces lengthy lay-off
INJURY UPDATE: The Stormers suffered a cruel setback with the news that Salmaan Moerat, a co-captain, will be sidelined for about two months.
The Springbok squad member, Moerat, injured his knee in the second half of the team’s United Rugby Championship win over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld last Saturday.
Stormers coach John Dobson revealed that the 23-year-old will be sidelined from six to eight weeks.
“Salmaan underwent a scan on Monday,” Dobson said of his burly lock, adding: “He has damaged his MCL [medial collateral ligament].
“He will be sidelined for a reasonable extended period of at least six weeks.”
Dobson said Moerat was injured early in the second half and they strapped it, hoping it would not be serious.
However, there was some instability and they took him for a scan.
“At worst it is a grade two [injury],” the coach said, adding that it would not require surgical intervention.
He added that he is comfortable with the second row resources – with 24-year-old Adre Smith set to take over as Springbok Marvin Orie’s second row partner.
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“In some way we are quite blessed,” the coach said.
“Adre Smith is a very similar player to Salmaan – both capable of calling line-outs, also bog body movers. They can steal, they carry well.
“They love cleaning rucks. It is like-for-like.
“I am very excited for Adre, that he gets the opportunity.
“We think he is going to be a special player.”
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