Two Springbok props have been downed but Etzebeth is back in training

The Stormers will be without one of their key Bok forwards for a lengthy period – reports Rugby 365.

Ahead of the Cape side’s opening Super Rugby match against Bulls, Stormers coach Robbie Fleck revealed that that Bok prop Steven Kitshoff will be on the sidelines for four to six weeks because of a hamstring injury.

“He [Kitshoff] took a clean-out against Boland, so the aim is for him to return for the tour.

“If we get him for the Jaguares game [March 15] it will be a bonus, but it’s more than likely that he will only be ready by the time we go on tour,” said Fleck.

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Another Bok prop, Frans Malherbe, will also miss this week’s trip to Pretoria,

“Frans took a shot to the knee so he has a haematoma on the knee. He will only be out for this weekend and he will be ready for selection next week.

“Juarno [Augustus] did his ankle and the injury looks to be seven to ten days, but more than likely he will be available for selection next week,” said the Stormers coach.

Fleck added: “We have been looking good on the injury front. Obviously Eben [Etzebeth] is still out, but he trained pretty well today [Thursday], so hopefully he will be ready in the next two weeks.

“These injuries have come about in the last few days, but they will be ready for next week, except for Kitshoff.”

Wing Sergeal Petersen is also expected to return to action next week.

“He [Petersen] was injured for the last ten days so he only returned to training on Monday. He had a foot injury, so we took the decision to give him a full week’s training before we select him,” said Fleck.

Teams:

Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Johnny Kotze, 13 Jessie Kriel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Lood de Jager (captain), 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Replacements: 16 Corniel Els, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Eli Snyman, 20 Thembelani Bholi, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Dylan Sage.

Stormers: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 JJ Engelbrecht, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 SP Marais, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Kobus van Dyk, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Dan du Plessis.

Date: Saturday, February 16
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17.15 (15.15 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Paul Williams, Egon Seconds
TMO: Marius Jonker

By Warren Fortune/Rugby 365