PORT ELIZABETH – The Southern Kings picked up several injuries in their match against Ulster at the Wolfson Stadium in Port Elizabeth over the weekend.
The Kings produced a fine performance, which prompted their coach Deon Davids to say afterwards he thought it was a match that “the Kings had lost rather than that Ulster had won” and bemoaned his side’s basic errors.
On Monday, Dr Clement Plaatjies, the Kings’ team doctor, said his team was left with a headache at scrumhalf as both Rudi van Rooyen and his replacement Rowan Gouws sustained injuries during the encounter.
“Van Rooyen was concussed while Gouws had sustained a Grade 1 sprain to his right ankle. Rudi’s injury is the more serious of the two, as he is still experiencing headaches and neck spasms, and only once he is symptom-free for a week will we be able to start with his return-to-play protocol.
“In Rowan’s case, we’ve decided to give him a week off from training and are confident that should be enough to see him ready and available for selection for the next match against Scarlets on the 26th,” said Plaatjies.
Southern Kings coach Deon Davids felt that his team lost to Ulster more than the visitors won their clash at Wolfson Stadium. Photo: Richard Huggard/BackpagePix
Loosehead prop and stand-in captain Schalk Ferreira has also been excused from training this week due to a contusion to his right thigh, but Plaatjies stressed that this was just precautionary.
“Schalk has put in plenty of minutes of playing time this season and worked extremely hard so he deserves some time off. He will be ready for Scarlets.”
The only other concern for the Kings medical team was loose forward Andisa Ntsila who is carrying a niggling knee injury.
“It does not seem major, but it has been bothering him for a while, so we decided to have a scan done on it and will be able to report back once we have seen the results.”
On the plus side, Plaatjies reported that flyhalf Martin du Toit, who sustained a concussion against Glasgow Warriors a fortnight ago, had recovered and been symptom-free for a week and was thus due to resume training on Thursday.
“If he comes through that unscathed, then he will be available for the match against Scarlets.”
The Southern Kings have a two-week break before they take on Scarlets on Sunday, November 26, at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.