Ruan Botha
The DHL Stormers’ injury woes continue as lock Ruan Botha is the next casualty on the list of sidelined players.
Botha has been ruled out of this weekend’s Super Rugby meeting with the Brumbies at Newlands, whilst centre and vice-captain Juan de Jongh is an injury doubt.
Botha suffered an ankle ligament injury against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last Saturday, as the Stormers went down 17 / 25.
Botha is in a moon boot and could be ruled out from 3 to 6 weeks. The team doctor is still to make a call on the length of his lay-off, but he has been ruled out for this week.
De Jongh is suffering from a hip pointer injury which saw him leave the field in the 23rd minute, and it is usually a 10-day injury.
Utility back Jaco Taute is available but the initial plan is for him to play 40 minutes for Western Province in the Vodacom Cup.
“Giving him (Taute) 40 minutes in the Vodacom Cup is the initial plan, but with our injuries at present we could slot him into the team against a quality Brumbies outfit,” said Stormers coach Allister Coetzee.
“It’s a decision we will still have to make and one we will make before Thursday’s team announcement.”
Flank Michael Rhodes (hamstring) is on the mend from his injury, but he is still about 3 weeks away from a return to action.
Wing Kobus van Wyk (knee) has started with rehabilitation after coming out of his knee brace, but is still on track for a return against the Lions on 6 June.
Flank Rynhardt Elstadt (ankle / leg injury – maisonneuve fracture) has started with rehabilitation, but will not be available in Super Rugby this year.
The Stormers are up against a wounded Brumbies side after they went down to the Waratahs last weekend. The Australian-conference leaders will want to retain their position at the top of the Australian pool, while the Stormers are looking to bounce back from a shock defeat to the Cheetahs.
rugby365
The excuses are already starting that the bok camp will be a distraction to the stommers, while AC last year said guys like Vermeulen are “managed” and usually have a break the first few days of the week anyway.
@ MacroSssss:
The “distraction” of one or two players being managed is a far cry from the distraction of having a whole team attending a springbok camp out of town.
Anyway, what AC says is not the gospel.. he said for example last night on e news that his decision to replace Demitri at half time with Coleman was the correct one as the Stormers already lost the game in the first half? He also fails to realise that the last sitter Coleman missed for example can be the difference between making the semi’s or not.
He appears to be very happy with Coleman’s form as well….
It’s quite scary for a Stormer’s fan to have to listen to stuff like that…
2 @ robzim:
It is a two way street…
In one column’s comment section you will read how awesome and inspirational Johan Ackerman is for believing in and standing behind his players.
In another one there will be blue murder screamed at AC for doing the same.
condemnation is probably the better word.
I guess the difference between a fanbase that is fed up of choking and one with a growing sense of confidence in their team regardless if they win or not starting from scratch as in 2014.
I think the real difference is that one coach honestly backs his players (‘he walks the talk’) while the other is clearly just spin doctoring:
Can you imagine this half-time pep talk: “Nou maar goed manne, julle het al klaar verloor; ons het nou wel hierdie veldslag reeds verloor, maar nie die oorlog nie; vat dit rustig, ons soek nie beserings nie, en ek sal spoedig al die plaasvervangers speeltyd gee”.
What gives? Does he think all saffas are as gullible as those in Province? 🙂
@ Angostura:
He probably told Coleman after the match: ” Moeni worry nie.. jy mag miskien nie meer die golden boot trofee wen nie, maar jy is nog steeds my ster..moenie glo wat die joernaliste skryf nie, hulle weet vokkol”
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