Good news for Stormers as potential prop crisis is averted

Fears that the DHL Stormers might be plunged into a tighthead crisis have been eased following the scan conducted on Sazi Sandi, and he may even play in the fourth round Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against the Zebre in Parma on Saturday night.

The prop was injured in the 34-0 win over the Scarlets in Llanelli last weekend and when Stormers director of rugby John Dobson spoke to the media after the game he did not sound hopeful. With two Springboks in Frans Malherbe and Neethling Fouche already out, it looked like the Stormers might have to dig quite deep in their quest to keep the strong scrumming culture they have become known for.

They do boast plenty of depth, with Zachary Porthen considered a star of the future and primed no doubt to step in for Sandi if he does not play, while the Stormers also have another promising youngster in Corne Welbach on their books, while Hencu Venter has joined from the Cheetahs. Scotland international Oli Kebble, normally a loosehead, can also swing to tighthead should it be necessary.
However losing your third choice player is never ideal, so the Stormers will be pleased with what assistant coach Dawie Snyman appeared to describe in an online press conference from Parma as a relatively clean bill of health.

“The scans on Sazi have come back and it does not look too bad, it looks okay,” said Snyman.

“That is good news for us. His foot was tramped during the game and we feared a bone might be fractured but the scans have revealed that isn’t the case and fortunately it wasn’t as bad as we thought. We will see if he gets through training this afternoon (Tuesday) if he is available to play for us on Saturday.”

Snyman disclosed that two of the Stormers’ current starting Springboks, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse, are still with the team and will be available to play against Zebre. Feinberg-Mngomezulu may though fly home next week ahead of the Stormers’ final tour game against Benetton in Treviso.

“Sacha does need to get home to see if his flat is still there as he has been away a lot with the Boks (and the next tour is due to start a week after the Treviso game). I am not sure about Damian at this point, whether he is staying with us for the Benetton game or going home.”

The Bok attack coach confirmed that new recruit Cobus Reinach, who has become the starting scrumhalf at the Boks, is not with the team in Italy but said he may head over for the final game.

“Cobus has just moved to Cape Town, so he needs to settle (before heading off with the Boks again) so we took that into account. There is a chance he could join us for the Treviso game,” he said.

The Stormers team for the Benetton game will be named on Friday and at this stage it appears that Deon Fourie, who will be out for some time after flying home to have an operation on his injured bicep, is the only player who played last week who definitely won’t be available for the second tour match.