VIDEO: 'If you snore on the field, you don't play next week'
The Stormers will head to Belfast next week, for a crucial United Rugby Championship Round 14 encounter with Ulster, without the services of two of their most senior players.
They claimed a bonus-point 29-17 win against Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday.
Not only were they made to work hard for the crucial victory at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli – which saw them move from 12th to seventh place on the standings – but they paid a dear price.
Springbok Deon Fourie had to leave the field in the 27th minute with a concussion, after colliding with captain Salmaan Moerat.
Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson revealed it was an HIA One (concussion level one), which carries a mandatory standdown period.
(WATCH as Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson gives his unique take on the injury status of some players after their 29-17 URC Round 13 win over Scarlets…..)
“It means he is out for the next game,” Dobson told a post-match media briefing.
“He didn’t want to come off, but the damage was done.
“When you snore on the field, it is worse than snoring next to your wife.
“That is a bit of a blow for us.”
They have not yet made a call on Fourie’s replacement.
The Stormers boss added that another Bok veteran, 34-year-old Frans Malherbe, will return home as part of a pre-determined ‘rest period’ for national players.
Apart from the injury-enforced changes, Neethling Fouche – who was home for the birth of his first child – will join the squad in Belfast for the Ravenhill face-off.
Suleiman Hartzenberg will also come in as Dobson goes ‘full metal jacket’ against the Irish province.
@king365ed
@rugby365com
United Rugby Championship
Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)
