Stormers boss John Dobson faces a tough rest of the season after revealing the extent of the injuries that will keep André-Hugo Venter and Deon Fourie sidelined.
Venter and Fourie suffered elbow and hamstring injuries, respectively, in last week’s 52-40 win over the Scarlets and face lengthy lay-offs over the coming months.
Their absences have necessitated the Stormers’ re-signing of fellow Springbok Bongi Mbonambi, who is set to return for the club off the bench against Ulster at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
Scarra Ntubeni was also called out of retirement this week amid a crisis at hooker, with Lukhanyo Vokozela ruled out with concussion and JJ Kotzé still suspended.
“We could have gone through this week with Altus [Rabe], Scarra and Vernon [Paulo], but Vennas [Venter] has a long-term injury. The best-case scenario is two months,” Dobson told the media on Wednesday.
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“If they do have to go in and operate, it could be eight or nine months. So, it probably gives a bit more logic to the Bongi situation.
“And Deon has a Grade 3 hamstring injury. He says he’s not feeling it. It doesn’t feel like a Grade 3, which perhaps means we can shorten it to three months.
“But, in my experience, it’s around three months.
“So, that’s the point. We have two big hookers out. Deon would have covered at hooker this week if he had been fit.
“They’re two long-term injuries. Boepa [Vokozela] has also had a few concussions, so we have to be conservative there. That’s part of the narrative around the Bongi situation.”
Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
The post Double blow for Stormers appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Stormers boss John Dobson faces a tough rest of the season after revealing the extent of the injuries that will keep André-Hugo Venter and Deon Fourie sidelined.
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