'We've got some good news': Scans reveal extent of Evan Roos' injury
SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers received some positive news on Evan Roos after he limped off the field in his team’s United Rugby Championship clash against Ulster over the weekend.
The 23-year-old suffered a knee injury in the first half when he was croc-rolled out of the ruck by Springbok Duane Vermeulen with Ulster flank Nick Timoney also involved in the cleanout.
After the 5-35 defeat in Belfast, Stormers head coach John Dobson feared the worst for his star No.8 and he even went on to say that he “will be surprised if he [Roos] plays for the Stormers again” this season.
However, on Tuesday, Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman provided a bit of relief.
“Evan went to the doctor for scans yesterday [Monday] and luckily we got some good news,” said Snyman
“The injury is not too bad.
“He has got some damage on his MCL [medial collateral ligament], but the ACL [anterior cruciate ligament] is intact so that means he will hopefully be back for the start of the play-offs or a little bit earlier.”
Friday’s injury was a big blow for Roos, who had only recently returned to the matchday squad after recovering from a rib injury he sustained on international duty in November.
“The first thing you do is put your arm around him. I know it’s frustrating, especially for a young player like him and after the season he had last year,” said Snyman.
“This season he started well and obviously got an opportunity with the Boks and played well against England and he got injured.
“He played a great half of rugby against Clermont and he was looking forward to building on that [against Ulster].
“Unfortunately, that [injuries] is part of rugby and players should understand that.
“It is frustrating, but we will definitely keep him around and keep motivating him.
“The great thing about our squad is that all our injured players are at the facility [High Performance Centre in Bellville] and they start helping us with analysis on the teams and they are just always communicating.”
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Squad updates
The two other players that will definitely not be involved in Saturday’s clash against the Sharks in Durban are Jean-Luc du Plessis (flyhalf) and JJ Kotze (hooker). Both players left the field against Ulster due to head knocks.
The good news is that loose forward Junior Pokomela (concussion) and Clayton Blommetjies (groin) were back on the training field on Tuesday and they will be available for selection. The duo were late withdrawals from the starting XV to face the Irish side.
On flyhalf Manie Libbok (concussion), Snyman added: “He trained today [Tuesday], so he still has to do one or tests to get through the concussion protocols. He is looking good.”
In other injury updates, flyer Seabelo Senatla is ready to go against the Sharks. In the pack, Ernst van Rhyn (MCL) is on track with his rehabilitation and he could be available against the Bulls [On February 18], while Gary Porter is back from a rib injury he picked up against Clermont in December.
Wing Leolin Zas is still expected to be out for a while with his hamstring injury.
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