John Dobson confirmed that the DHL Stormers count on to be with out Deon Fourie for the remainder of the season after the veteran suffered a knee harm within the Champions Cup loss to La Rochelle.
Fourie left the sector on a motor stretcher in the direction of the tip of the primary half because the DHL Stormers pushed defending champions La Rochelle to the brink in a 22-21 loss within the final 16 in Cape City on Saturday.
The flanker, who was making his return from a rib harm, suffered a knee harm and isn’t anticipated again earlier than the tip of the season.
Stormers head coach John Dobson mentioned after the match that whereas Fourie has seemingly averted an anterior cruciate ligament harm and nonetheless has to go for scans, it’s nonetheless “severe”.
“It might be the [end of his] season,” Dobson mentioned.
Leolin Zas additionally suffered a knee harm within the loss, however the Stormers are awaiting scans on the winger earlier than offering an replace on his standing.
In the meantime, in an intense and bodily contest, the Stormers misplaced three gamers – flanks Ben-Jason Dixon and Hacjivah Dayimani and captain Salmaan Moerat – to concussions.
Dixon went down the tunnel halfway by way of the primary half and was changed by Dayimani, who was on the receiving finish of an unintended head collision with Moerat within the second half and needed to be stretchered off on oxygen.
A few minutes after Dayimani went off, Moerat needed to depart the sector, however the lock did participate within the post-match press convention.
The excellent news is that the Stormers may have subsequent weekend off, having didn’t progress to the Champions Cup quarter-finals, which is able to permit every week of restoration earlier than the Vodacom URC residence conflict with Welsh facet Ospreys.
The Stormers even have loads of depth within the again row, with Nama Xaba, Junior Pokomela and Willie Engelbrecht all obtainable after sitting out Saturday’s playoff.
Dobson confirmed that winger Angelo Davids is anticipated again within the subsequent two to a few weeks.
Photograph: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Photos