VIDEO: Skelton's amazing act of kindness after brutal collision
WATCH as Stade Rochelais’ giant lock Will Skelton shows an extraordinary act of kindness amid a brutal battle.
The French giants fought back from 0-16 down (after 45 minutes) at half-time to defeat the Stormers 22-21 in an extraordinary Champions Cup Round of 16 match in Cape Town at the weekend.
It saw Stade Rochelais advance to the quarterfinal, as they continue their search for a third straight title.
They will face Leinster – the team they beat in the last two finals – in a quarterfinal face-off in Dublin this coming Saturday.
However, the home team in Cape Town at the weekend paid a dear price for their heroics against two-time defending European Cup champions, Stade Rochelais.
Two key players suffered knee injuries and three others suffered concussion.
Utility forward Deon Fourie suffered a “serious” knee injury.
He was taken from the field on a mobile stretcher in the 39th minute – with his replacement, Marcel Theunissen, yellow-carded in the 59th minute.
Wing Leolin Zas also has a ‘reasonably serious’ knee injury, but still has to go for a scan.
The three concussion cases – utility forward Ben-Jason Dixon, lock and captain Salmaan Moerat, as well as replacement loose forward Hacjivah Dayimani – included a rather brutal collision between Moerat and the giant Australian, Skelton.
Moerat got an attempted front-on tackle badly wrong and was knocked out cold.
While play was continuing, Skelton – realising Moerat was in distress – covered his Stormers rival to avoid further damage.
It showed what the sport is truly about – great sportsmanship.
Source: @THESTORMERS
Big Will Skelton showing what our sport is all about by protecting our captain Salmaan Moerat when he needed it most in our Investec @ChampionsCup match on Saturday.
You’re welcome back at DHL Stadium whenever you are in Cape Town, Will. What a guy. pic.twitter.com/BG0BBgdPtq
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) April 7, 2024
