Stormers sweating over Bok lock
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee celebrated a win over quality opposition, but he will be sweating over injuries to key players.
The Stormers scored a 39-31 win (five tries to four) over the Cheetahs at Newlands on Friday in their second Super Rugby pre-season outing.
However, the one negative saw three key players leave the field with injuries.
Locks Eben Etzebeth (blow to his chest) and Manuel Carizza (shoulder), as well as wing Kobus van Wyk (calf muscle) all left the field in the first half.
Coetzee said more will be known about their fitness once they have undergone medical examinations.
"They all need to undergo scans," Coetzee said.
"We won't be guessing until we see our medical reports and we certainly won't be panicking right now."
The biggest concern will be the injury to the two locks, given the limited resources available, but Coetzee is happy with the depth he has.
Coetzee may well be forced to call upon his utility loose forwards to fill in the gap in the second row if either or both his locks are ruled out for any period.
The hosts, in action at home for the first time in 2015, led by 29-10 at half-time – having scored four excellent tries in the first half.
"It was a big step up from last weekend," the coach said.
"We were very clinical in the first half and stepped up across the board," said Coetzee afterwards.
"We scrummed well, our breakdown work was good and we exited well… I thought our physicality was good too."
The Stormers will face up to the Boland Cavaliers in their final warm-up match at the Cape Town Stadium next Saturday (February 7).
Eben Etzebeth (chest), Manny Carizza (shoulder) and Kobus van Wyk (calf) will undergo scans on their injuries after tonight. #rugby
— STORMERS (@THESTORMERS) January 30, 2015
