Positive news on Etzebeth

Stormers coach Robbie Fleck (above) is confident Springbok captain Eben Etzebeth can recover sooner from a serious neck injury than originally thought.

Etzebeth has been ruled out for four months for a pinched nerve in his shoulder sustained in the Boks’ last Test against Wales in Cardiff in December.

It will see the big 26-year-old middlerower, who has played 67 Tests, missing between 10 and 11 Super Rugby games while it is suspected he might be in a race against time to be fit for the June Test series against England.

Fleck however said it is not all doom and gloom after his squad crushed the Eagles 77-0 in George in their first Super Rugby warmup match of the new season.

“We are taking it on a week-byweek basis with Eben,” said Fleck.

“It is the type of injury where once it reacts and the muscles and the nerves start working again it is quite a quick turnaround.”

He said they won’t be taking any gambles with Etzebeth which means the likes of Pieter-Steph du Toit, JD Shickerling and Chris van Zyl will have to hold the fort.

“The medical staff are working incredibly hard to get them back fit and ready. We need to get them 100% ready before we play him,” he said.

Fleck added that with Etzebeth, prop Frans Malherbe, flyhalf Jean-luc du Plessis and centre Dan du Plessis still on the injured list, it will test their depth in the early stages of their campaign.