VIDEO: Evan back, but cloud of uncertainty over Sacha

The Stormers will get one Springbok back ahead of their return to European action, but there is a cloud of uncertainty over the injury of star playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Springbok star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu remains in the sickbay and there is no clear indication on the extent of his latest impairment.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu left the field in the 37th minute of the Stormers’ 24-20 win over the Sharks in a United Rugby Championship encounter on December 28.

The clavicular injury was his third setback this year – following knee surgery and hip-flexor problem.

It looks certain he will not feature when the Stormers host Sale Sharks in a Champions Cup Round Three match in Cape Town on Saturday.

“Sacha didn’t train this week,” defence coach Norman Laker said, adding that they still have no clarity on his injury.

“We are still awaiting an update on his injury and can’t say whether it [his lay-off] is a day, a week, two weeks or three weeks,” he said.

Laker said they have enough cover in the midfield.

“It is not an individual sport, it’s a team sport

“[Even with] Sacha out, there are other guys who can put their hands up.

“Jean-Luc [du Plessis] showed us that in the last two games.

“When Sacha went off he [Du Plessis] played 60-odd minutes.”

(WATCH as Stormers defence guru Norman Laker gives an injury update ahead of their return to Europe….)

The good news is that Roos, Sti Sithole and Englishman Ben Loader have all started training and are available for selection.

Roos and Loader could make their first appearances of the season if selected – following shoulder and knee surgery respectively.

Sithole (ankle) last played a competitive match in October against Munster in the URC.

Wing as Leolin Zas also looks set to miss the Round Three encounter.

“Evan has started training with us, but Zas has trained on and off,” Laker told reporters.

“Sti is back in training, and Ben Loader is also training, and they’ll be available.”

Roos has not played since the Bok Test against Portugal in Bloemfontein in June last year.

He underwent surgery for a shoulder problem that plagued him for some time.

“He [Roos] is a very impactful player, especially if he gets the ball in his hands,” Laker said.

“He and Marcel [Theunissen] play a very similar type of game and the team gets good momentum if they get the ball.

“We’ve all seen what Evan can do if he gets the ball, he’s scored some very impressive tries for the Stormers, sometimes running almost 50 metres.

“His energy on attack is great for the team.”

“It is also 50-50 if Dan du Plessis will go on tour next weeks – for encounters with Racing 92 at La Defense Arena i Paris (Champions Cup Round Four) and Leinster (URC in Dublin).

“He’ll take his time when he comes back so that he is 100 percent fit,” Laker said of Dan du Plessis.

“A knee injury is not nice so sometimes you rather take an extra week off or risk nine months on the sidelines.”

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