Stormers' injury ups and downs
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Although the Stormers have lost Rynhardt Elstadt to injury for around six months, they do have a few players returning to action this week.
The big utility forward broke his leg in the clash with the Blues at Newlands on Saturday, which effectively put an end to his Super Rugby season, which comes as a big blow for the Cape side given his versatility, but luckily for Stormers coach Allister Coetzee he has two Springboks who are able to step into the openside flank role in Nizaam Carr and Siya Kolisi
"That is a big negative, it is a broken fibula. He will see the specialist so that could be six months minimum, it is a massive setback for us and Nizaam Carr and Siya Kolisi have got to step up and produce," he said.Coetzee is expecting Schalk Burger to return from Japan soon, and he should be able to call on the likes of Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe and Kobus van Wyk this week ahead of their clash with the Lions at Ellis Park.
"Hopefully Schalk will be back in a week or so's time and we have got to continue.
"Eben will be back this week and up for selection. Frans Malherbe and Kobus van Wyk will be back this week and training with the team so we will see," he said.
Captain Duane Vermeulen had a fat lip at the post-match press conference after taking the punch which saw Blues lock Hayden Triggs shown a red card, and Coetzee was full of praise for the restraint his captain showed to avoid retaliating.
"He kept his nerve and I am just really happy that he didn't retaliate, it is very difficult to control yourself and especially knowing Duane it is always a contest and it doesn't matter what kind of contest it is," he said.
Vermeulen admitted that it had been tough to keep his cool after taking one to the face, but managed to control himelf for the sake of the team.
"It is rugby and you have just got to go with the flow, maybe this is something for the youngsters – you just can't retaliate because you may put your team at risk," he said.
By Michael de Vries
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