Stormers lose a few bruisers

Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck confirmed that lock Kleyn will be out of action for four months after fracturing his scaphoid in his wrist during the Stormers' pre-season game against the Jaguares. He will require surgery.

Elstadt, who can play in the back row and second row, will be on the sidelines for six weeks after injuring his groin. Promising No.8 Rikus Bothma will be out for 12 weeks as he will be going under the knife after injuring his medial collateral ligament in his knee.

Fleck also confirmed that prop Wilco Louw will be out for six months after tearing his posterior cruciate ligament in his knee. 

Despite the injuries, Fleck feels he has enough depth in the squad, especially after the return of the team's Springboks.

"It's not ideal what happened on the weekend, but it is what it is and we feel the squad is strong enough and useful enough to do a good enough job," Fleck told media at the team's High Performance Centre in Bellville.

"Elstadt and Kleyn are two big injury blows. They are two similar players who bring a lot of physicality and they will be missed. In saying that, we are getting back the likes of Frans [Malherbe], Schalla [Schalk Burger] and Eben [Etzebeth] is also returning."

"We are happy with what we got. JD Schickeling was a shining light on the weekend and so was Jan de Klerk, who is an industrious player.

Flyhalf Brandon Thomson was the only casualty amongst the Stormers' backs on the weekend. He injured his ankle and will be out for 14 days.

Centre Jaco Taute, who required surgery on his ankle after the South Western Districts Eagles game a few weeks ago, will only be returning in June, while Damian de Allende is expected back from his ankle injury in April.

Under-21 star EW Viljoen is expected to return in March.

By Warren Fortune

@FortuneWarren

@rugby365com