Cape Town pitch strikes again
INJURY UPDATE: The Stormers and Springboks have been dealt a hefty blow in the second row department following another pitch-related injury at the DHL Stadium.
@Rugby365 can confirm that lock Salmaan Moerat is set to be sidelined for six months after suffering a turf toe injury in the Stormers’ 19-30 United Rugby Championship loss to the Sharks in Round 10.
The Stormers have been playing on a dreadful pitch since a motocross event was held on December 13, a week before hosting the Lions, and the playing surface hasn’t improved much since.
Artificial pitches like the DHL Stadium (50 percent synthetic and 50 percent turf) can increase the risk of a turf toe injury occurring.
A turf toe injury, by definition, states: “Playing on an artificial turf – including modern 3G and 4G surfaces generally increases the risk of a turf toe (a sprain of the ligaments around the big toe) compared to natural grass.”
Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson was critical of the condition of the playing surface after lock Adre Smith was hospitalised with an infected knee against the Bulls.
“We were promised a world-class pitch, and we certainly don’t have one,” Dobson said.
Sharks and Bok loose forward Phepsi Buthelezi also suffered a toe injury on the same surface.
Moerat’s latest setback could force Bok coach Rassie Erasmus to cast his net wider in the lock department, with Lood de Jager and utility forward Pieter-Steph du Toit also currently sidelined with their respective injuries.
Erasmus addressed his concern about the Boks’ lock stocks on Monday at the Bok headquarters in Plattekloof, stating that the World Champions are a bit thin in the second row department.
“We are a bit thin at lock,” Erasmus said, adding: “If you look at our depth at lock in terms of the age bracket and the number of games players played, we lack maybe.”
“If we are really in trouble, we will have to make a plan,” Erasmus said.
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