Pieter-Steph’s return gives Stormers a boost, but there’s bad news concerning Seabelo

WHILE THE Stormers have received a great boost in the form of Pieter-Steph du Toit and Cobus Wiese’s fitness, there is also, yet again, some bad news.

Du Toit and Wiese have been cleared to play in the Stormers’ Super Rugby match against the Blues on Saturday, but there are also fresh injury concerns.

Du Toit took a blow to the head when he collided with teammate Kobus van Dyk against the Crusaders in Christchurch, sustaining a concussion. And with promising second-rower JD Schickerling having been ruled out for four months, Chris van Zyl and Jan de Klerk started in Dunedin against the Highlanders, with Salmaan Moerat making his Stormers debut in fine style off the bench.

Wiese missed the Highlanders match, but has recovered from a shoulder injury and is available for the weekend’s fixture.

Du Toit’s fitness is a timely boost for Robbie Fleck’s side as Van Zyl is also on the casualty list and continues to be monitored after suffering concussion against the Highlanders.

But as with almost all Stormers injury updates, there’s bad news, too.

Fullback SP Marais is expected to miss the game against Tana Umaga’s outfit, and went for scans yesterday to determine the extent of the rib injury he picked up in Dunedin.

The Stormers’ backline is in a tough situation as wing Seabelo Senatla, who is out with a groin injury, seems unlikely to run out at Newlands this weekend, as his injury continues to be assessed and his return date is dependent on his progress.

To make matters worse, Sergeal Petersen has been ruled out for four months with a medial collateral ligament injury (knee) while playing in a SuperSport Rugby Challenge warm-up match for Western Province against Maties.

This leaves the Stormers very thin out wide, as Dillyn Leyds will in all likelihood move to fullback this weekend to cover for Marais, while JJ Engelbrecht could come in on the wing along with Raymond Rhule, with Damian de Allende and EW Viljoen in midfield.