Schalk Burger and Duane Vermeulen may be some way from returning to the playing field, but the Stormers’ Super Rugby challenge should be boosted by the return of several star players when they play their next match against the Cheetahs at Newlands on 12 May.
The best news for the Stormers as they head into a bye week and the guaranteed four log points that will hoist them into the 40s with seven matches still to play, all of them in South Africa and four of them at home, is that there is a good chance that Jean de Villiers will be back to lead them at Newlands.
The Springbok centre, who captained the team from the first match, when Burger was injured, through to the Crusaders game, had to return home early from tour because of a wrist injury that prevented him from playing against the Reds and Western Force.
While there is still uncertainty over whether he will be ready for the Cheetahs or not, Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has listed his chances of playing as high as “80 to 90%”.
A decision on De Villiers will be made on Wednesday, which is also when confirmation and an announcement is expected on when the Stormers can expect to see their most experienced loose-forwards, Burger and Vermeulen, back in training.
“Our medical team will liaise with the specialist when we get back home,” said Coetzee from Perth at the weekend.
Both Burger and Vermeulen sustained knee ligament injuries. When Vermeulen was ruled out of the final tour match against the Western Force, it was speculated that he might face a lengthy lay-off that may seem him only return to the playing field in time for the three-match sequence that will end the league phase of competition after the June tour window.
Burger was initially supposed to be coming back for the Cheetahs game but there have been complications in his rehab and it now appears he too may not be wearing the Stormers jersey before July.
As an Australian commentator put it at the weekend, the business end of the competition building up to the play-offs is when the experience of Burger (and Vermeulen) will be most valuable, so the timing of their return could be perfect provided the Stormers are able to go well enough without them in the meantime to stay at the top of the South African conference.(please note daveou we need our top players back)
The June test matches are going to have a say in the Super Rugby race in terms of workload and possible injuries.
While no franchise coach would want his players to be injured and miss out on international opportunities, it could play into the Stormers’ hands were the likes of Burger to start their season only after the Springbok series against England.
If the tour proved one thing it was that the Stormers, thanks to Coetzee’s decision last year to use the Currie Cup as a preparation for Super Rugby, have enough depth to remain competitive even with top players out injured.
The coach will nonetheless be pleased that star wing Gio Aplon and physical lock Eben Etzebeth are expected to be fit for the Cheetahs game, while Andries Bekker and Steven Kitshoff, who both sustained knocks against the Force, are also said to be fine.
Always tough against the Cheetahs who with a bit of good fortune would have beaten both the Chiefs and highlanders.
Just have to get thse wins. Hopefully we will still at some point fileld afull strenght pack which will further open blind eyes re what a power pack is about and the direction Bok rugby needs to go.amazingly we still have some oaks going on about spiesies etc. Away with the show ponies!!!
