Double Bok boost for Stormers
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The Stormers will welcome back Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth from injury as well as veteran Schalk Burger from Japan as the unbeaten men from Cape Town get set to host the Sharks at Newlands on Saturday.
Jean Kleyn is another lock that will return from injury, which is good news for coach Allister Coetzee with injury concerns surrounding Ruan Botha and Jurie van Vuuren, following Saturday’s hard-fought 22-19 win over the Lions in Johannesburg.
Botha took a knock to his head against the Lions and will undergo concussion testing.
While Van Vuuren suffered a shoulder injury. He will be out of action for at least 21 days and possibly more.
Another concern is Michael Rhodes who took a big blow to his knee against the Lions.
It could be bone bruising, or perhaps more, but he will undergo a scan when he rejoins the team.
An update on his injury will be given on Thursday.
Finally, Wing Kobus van Wyk will be assessed later this week after missing the first three matches of the season with a calf-muscle injury.
Burger is expected back from Japan on Tuesday and according to coach Coetzee, the flank is fresh, after featuring off the bench of late for his Japanese club.
But a full call on his participation will be made once the Stormers medical staff have had a look at him after he arrives at the High Performance Centre.
There was no team training on Monday, after 13 Stormers players stayed behind for a planned Springbok training camp in Johannesburg.
Coetzee was not to perturbed about missing out on training on Monday.
“As the tournament progresses, Mondays become your resting and recovery days and you’re able to do some technical work.
So Today [Monday] is not a bad thing at all, so we’re not too upset at not having trained.”
The Stormers face another South African derby against the Sharks on Saturday, but coach Coetzee says he is not reading anything into their hard-fought loss to the Bulls.
“We’re not reading anything into the Sharks’ loss to the Bulls, they’re a powerful side and we need to make a lot of improvements if we are to keep up our good record at home," he said.
“The guys showed great character last week, I was very pleased with the players’ effort – despite the mistakes they made.
"The good thing, however, is that these mistakes can be fixed.”
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