CAPE TOWN - Just last week Stormers coach Robbie Fleck spoke about the depth gained in certain positions over the last few months with players returning from injury and new signings. One warm-up game later, that depth is significantly less.
Just like last season, the Stormers are now going down the dreaded injury path again, this time even before the Super Rugby season has officially started.
Wing Leolin Zas and centre and last season’s co-captain Juan de Jongh are the latest additions to the injury list, and the loss of these two backs is a major blow for the Stormers.
The duo picked up their injuries during the Stormers’ massive 57-40 win over the Lions at Newlands on Saturday, as they ended their pre-season campaign on a high after also securing victories against the Cheetahs and the South Western District Eagles.
The Stormers have also lost new recruit Stephan de Wit to injury, and soon after acquiring Pumas openside flanker Marnus Schoeman on a loan deal for the 2017 Super Rugby season, Schoeman also picked up an injury.
Following the match on Saturday, Fleck said that the severity of Zas and De Jongh’s injuries has not yet been determined.
“He (Zas) been sent to hospital, but the confirmation will come later. They suspect it’s a broken leg and that he might have broken both his tibia and fibula. I don’t think it’s good news on De Jongh. They say he’s injured his MCL (medial collateral ligament), they said that it could be a grade two tear, so he could be out for a couple of weeks as well.”
For the last Super Rugby friendly, Fleck did not name a captain, but said that De Jongh would be one of his leaders and also deal with the referee on the day, so should the midfielder be ruled out for a couple of weeks, Fleck will have to make a few decisions in terms of the captaincy.
Frans Malherbe featured as last year’s co-captain, and Fleck has also mentioned the likes of Siya Kolisi, Nizaam Carr and Dillyn Leyds as part of his leadership group. Instead of a co-captaincy, the Stormers coach might be better off just picking one leader and sticking with him.
In terms of replacements, Fleck shouldn’t have too much trouble filling the gap in midfield, with Damian de Allende and Dan du Plessis available, while Scottish international Huw Jones will be joining the Cape side in the week before their Round Two match against the Jaguares.
EW Viljoen has also showed some promise in midfield during the pre-season, so although the loss of De Jongh for a few weeks will hurt the Stormers, Fleck might have a slightly bigger problem on the wing.
Last season, after Kobus van Wyk joined the Sharks, Zas and Sevens star Werner Kok were the men mostly next to the touch lines. Since Zas is likely to be out for a long time, the Stormers’ signing of World Sevens Player of the Year Seabelo Senatla is set to be great one. Not only because he is, well, Senatla, but also because Fleck now really needs him.
One position that doesn’t need a lot of help is fullback.
Fleck has Cheslin Kolbe and Leyds, who are more than capable of running the show at the back, while SP Marais has also impressed in the Stormers’ warm-up games. There is also Bjorn Basson who signed with the union who can add to the fullback options. And then, of course, there’s junior star Damian Willemse to add to the resources.
“It’s pleasing to see that we’re getting a bit of depth in that No 15 jersey with both Dillyn Leyds and Cheslin Kolbe as cover there. Also Willemse came on for that little cameo appearance at the end there. So it’s pleasing to see an 18-year-old perform well at a high level.”
Despite the injury worries, the Stormers boss was impressed with his side’s performance in Saturday’s confidence-boosting win. And it was the players’ conditioning levels and willingness to try things on the field that had Fleck smiling.
“It’s not about fixing it, it’s about promoting the fact that they’re looking for opportunities. That’s the direction we’re going in and we’re going to keep pushing boundaries in that regard. We’d rather keep it positive and reap the rewards of situational play like that rather than telling the players not to do it.”