Injury cloud hangs over Stormers

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There is still no clarity over the availability of lock Eben Etzebeth for the Stormers’ final two Vodacom Super Rugby pool games. DYLAN JACK reports.

Etzebeth suffered a hand injury in Saturday’s loss against the Lions at Ellis Park, putting his participation in doubt for the Stormers’ upcoming games against the Sunwolves and Sharks.

The lock was present at the team’s training ground in Bellville on Monday afternoon, but with his hand heavily bandaged, took no part in the session. He was set to see a specialist to determine the full extent of the injury later on Monday.

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There was no sign of young second-rower Cobus Wiese, who suffered a hamstring injury on the weekend, putting the Stormers down to the bare bones in terms of locks, with the experienced Pieter-Steph du Toit also likely to miss the match.

However, the Cape side could be boosted by the return of a couple of seniors, as both hooker Bongi Mbonambi and Currie Cup captain Chris van Zyl took full part in the session. Mbonambi showed no clear or visible signs of the quad injury he suffered against the Crusaders.

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The Stormers will be looking to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat which allowed the Lions to leapfrog them in the South African conference. Their playoff hopes are by no means over, but they will desperately want a bonus-point victory over the Sunwolves, while hoping other results go their way.

Photo: Nic Bothma/EPA

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Dylan Jack