'Jaw dropping' injury wipes out Cape Town headliner

TEAM UPDATE: Evan Roos versus Cameron Hanekom was billed as one of the ‘head acts’ of the #BIG North-South derby – when the Stormers host the Bulls in a United Rugby Championship Round Eight encounter.

However, it appears the battle of the two young No.8s has been wiped off the ‘agenda’ at the Cape Town Stadium.

According to a report on Netwerk24 Roos suffered a jaw injury in last weekend’s 21-20 home Champions Cup win over La Rochelle – a fact that was not mentioned at a media briefing on Tuesday – even though the question about injuries was raised.

If the report is true, it will be a major blow for the Stormers, as well as take a major selling point out of the #BIG North-South Derby.

It will leave the home team’s pack rather thin in terms of hard-edge muscle.

They have lost two-time World Cup-winning prop Steven Kitshoff to Ulster, with fellow Bok and double Webb Ellis Cup winner Frans Malherbe unable to play since the global showpiece in France back in October.

Malherbe is on a ‘long-term’ rehabilitation programme for a lower back injury, with no set time for his return.

Other confirmed injuries in the camp include wing import Ben Loader (AC joint injury).

At least the outside backs are well covered, with Angelo Davids (starting to train after an injury lay-off) and Suleiman Hartzenberg able to replace Loader.

However, being without the muscle and experience in internationals like Roos and Malherbe is going add to make it tougher for the Stormers against a high-flying Bulls team.

This is a crunch match for both teams and for South Africans, it does not get bigger than the North versus South derby.

Whoever wins on Saturday takes huge strides for the South African Shield.