The Stormers have been hit hard by injuries ahead of their clash against the Sunwolves at Newlands on Saturday (5.15pm).
Springboks Eben Etzebeth, Damian Willemse and Sikhumbuzo Notshe all played their last matches of the Super Rugby season when they lost 42-21 to the Lions at Ellis Park last weekend.
With the trio ruled out for the season, coach Robbie Fleck, who already has to make-do without captain Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit for the rest of the term, also had to deal with losing wing Seabelo Senatla to concussion for the clash and hooker Scarra Ntubeni to injury, while Damian de Allende had to be rested according to their agreement with the South African Rugby Union.
Of the injuries in his squad, Fleck says: “The injury situation is fairly large at the moment for us.
“It’s something we had to deal with over the last two or three weeks
“We’ve had to juggle a bit over the last two weeks and bring in new faces.”
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While the news is not good for the Stormers camp, Fleck believes his stars will still be available for the Springboks at the World Cup.
He explains: “Eben [Etzebeth], [Sikhumbuzo] Notshe, Siya [Kolisi] , JD [Schickerling] and Damian [Willemse] - those guys aren’t coming back.
“Damian’s probably going to need an operation - he could be out for up to a month.
“He should be fine [for the World Cup], but again he’s getting a second opinion. Eben is out for at least six weeks [but should be fine for the World Cup].
“Notshe is also out for four to six weeks with an ankle injury].”