Injuries ravage Vodacom Stormers

Coach Rassie Erasmus already on Saturday night announced he was not confident that wings Nick Koster and Tonderai Chavhanga would be departing with the rest of the squad on Thursday for the overseas leg of their Vodacom Cup campaign.

He said hooker Deon Fourie suffered a knee injury but added he was not too concerned about that. Now he has not only to make peace with the fact all three players have been ruled out but to compound the misery lock Andries Bekker is also not going to tour.

Bekker broke his big toe in Saturday’s game against the Lions. Stormers spokesperson Frikkie Erasmus said Bekker was definitely not touring. “We don’t know yet how long he will be out for,” he added.

Chavhanga will be out for between two and three weeks and has a change of joining the squad on tour later, but Koster’s knee injury would prevent him from seeing action for much longer. Fourie tore ligaments.

Erasmus confirmed that former Vodacom WP and Stormers hooker Tiaan Liebenberg has been called up from France, where his playing club rugby, to accompany the Stormers on tour.

“Tiaan replaces Deon. We don’t know if he would be departing with the team on Thursday though, as he has to get a visa and at this stage we are not sure if he would get one in time.

“He would probably have to join us later. Tiaan arrives tomorrow morning, so we have no idea about how quickly he can get a visa.”

Good news for Stormers fans is that Springbok fullback Conrad Jantjes has recovered from a calf injury and will be ready to tour. WP Vodacom Cup centres Morgan Newman and Dylan des Fountain will both be in the touring party.