Stormers lose Bok hooker
INJURY UPDATE: In less than three weeks, the Stormers’ on-field celebrations have turned into off-field headaches.
The Cape Town side’s impressive two consecutive shutout wins over the Hurricanes (27-0) and the Bulls (13-0) have been accompanied with major injury concerns.
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi has already been ruled out for to eight weeks due to a grade three medial collateral ligament injury.
And now Springboks hooker Mbongeni Mbonambi could be out for the rest of the season.
The 27-year-old sustained a hamstring injury during his team’s opening win over Hurricanes and sat out the match against the Bulls. The Stormers expected the Springbok back in two to three weeks, however, he could be sidelined for the remainder of the season following the surgery.
Mbonambi could also miss South Africa’s July Test series against Scotland and Georgia.
Speaking to media at Riebeek Kasteel Primary School in the Swartland, head coach John Dobson said: “We originally thought it was a partial tear, but after further consultation, we got the news that the hamstring had torn completely,”
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In other injury news, Springboks scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies is a doubt for this weekend’s match against Lions.
The 23-year-old has proven to be a vital component in the Stormers’ attack and losing him is another massive blow for Dobson.
“Herschel [Jantjies] was lucky to play last week,” the coach said, adding: “I’m not sure if it is a sternoclavicular sprain, but he is certainly a doubt.
“We will give him until Friday but there is a good chance that he won’t play,”
According to Dobson, scrumhalf Godlen Masimla is a suitable replacement in the starting line-up.
“We are very excited about Godlen. He struggled at the Kings and spent eight months here [in Cape Town] as an amateur playing for Paarl. He also trained with Western Province’s Currie Cup team.
“I always talked him up and I think he is in the desperate phase now and physical he is in good condition,”
The coach also revealed that Jaco Coetzee is another valuable player who is a doubt for the Ellis Park trip.
The loose forward failed the first phase of his return to play protocols for concussion.
The good news for Stormers is that JD Schickerling and Cobus Weise will be available for selection.
The Stormers face the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday, February 15.
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