Cape Town - Stormers coach Allister Coetzee called it the “curse of the loose forwards” after Siya Kolisi was ruled out of rugby for six weeks on Monday with an ankle injury.
Kolisi was the Man of the Match in the 28-3 win over the Cheetahs on Saturday, and such was his adrenalin that he didn’t feel the injury until Sunday.
A scan on Monday showed that a ligament had been torn.
His absence is a big blow ahead of Saturday’s clash against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth.
“I have to start with the news we’ve become used to, the curse of the loose forwards – Siya is out for six weeks. He’s torn an ankle ligament. It’s the least problematic one, so he will be back within six weeks. But he is in a boot,” Coetzee said after practice in Bellville on Monday.
“It’s not as bad as the syndesmosis that Peter Grant, Michael Rhodes, Eben Etzebeth and Frans Malherbe have – that’s the big one that can keep you out for up to 12 weeks. So, there won’t be any surgery. It happened during the game – he had it in the first half, but didn’t even feel it and completed the match. He only felt it on Sunday.”
Coetzee stated that the Stormers are missing “12 top players” at the moment, which has played a large role in them slumping from first position on the overall log last year to their current 10th spot.
“It’s almost like we are immune to that feeling of being disappointed when we pick up an injury. We’ve got 12 top players out now with Siya, which is almost a full team. Pat, Tiaan, Frans, Andries, Rynhardt, Siya, Schalk, Michael Rhodes and Duane. Jean, Jaco Taute and Peter Grant. Geez, it’s quite a (list),” the coach said.
Bryan Habana, Elton Jantjies, Steven Kitshoff and De Kock Steenkamp sat out training on Monday, but Coetzee said that they will be ready to play against the Kings.
Prop Pat Cilliers joined Rynhardt Elstadt in training on Monday and should be fit to play, but captain Jean de Villiers (sternum) and hooker Tiaan Liebenberg (back) are likely to sit out another week.
“I think Jean is not 100 percent over his injury, not at all,” Coetzee said. “There is a big possibility that Jean could play against the Bulls.”
Cape Times