The stirring euphoria of the Stormers’ emphatic 27-0 victory over the Hurricanes at Newlands on Saturday was crushed by the news that captain Siya Kolisi injured his knee.
Kolisi was forced to leave the field in the 25th minute after a late tackle from Hurricanes hooker Ricky Riccitelli.
And after also battling with a knee injury last season, Stormers coach John Dobson is hopeful that his skipper’s problem is not too serious.
He explains: “It is a hell of a blow - to lose your skipper in the first 20 minutes of a campaign - just in terms of what he means to the team on and off the pitch.
“He’ll be out for a few weeks at least.”
Kolisi isn’t the only Springbok blow for the Stormers, with hooker Bongi Mbonambi leaving the field with a hamstring injury.
HAMSTRUNG: Hooker Bongi Mbonambi. Picture: RYAN WILKISKY/BACKPAGEPIX
Dobson doesn’t expect him back for this week’s north-south derby against the Bulls at Newlands either, while the coach is also sweating on the fitness of flanker Jaco Coetzee, who suffered a groin injury in the clash.
There is some good news for the Capetonians, though, with No.8 Juarno Augustus and the versatile Cobus Wiese expected to be fit and ready to go for the Bulls.