Jones’s injury blow to Stormers
THE Stormers face a potential midfield crisis following confirmation that centre Huw Jones sustained a torn hamstring playing for Scotland against Italy in the Six Nations last Saturday.
The Cape Town franchise has already lost Springbok centres Juan de Jongh and Damian de Allende for the bulk of this year’s Super Rugby campaign.
Jones had surgery in a London hospital on Monday and is expected to be out of the game for five months‚ which effectively ends his career in Cape Town.
Coach Robbie Fleck was pinning hopes on Jones bringing experience and depth to the midfield‚ now staffed by rookies EW Viljoen and Dan Kriel and the callow Daniel du Plessis.
So far the youngsters have done well against mediocre opposition‚ but the campaign is entering a tough six-week stretch that pits the Stormers against the Cheetahs‚ Lions‚ Crusaders‚ Highlanders‚ Hurricanes and the Blues.
Depth will be tested and experience needed.
De Jongh has a medial collateral ligament injury and an optimistic update is that he will be available in six weeks’ time.
De Allende is not available for six to eight weeks with an ankle injury.
Scot Jones did a post matric at Bishops in Cape Town and stayed on to play in the Varsity Cup‚ where he caught the attention of Western Province.
He made his Currie Cup debut in 2014 and his Super Rugby debut for the Stormers in 2015 and has quickly become a vital part of the setup in Cape Town.
But after making his first test appearance for Scotland against Japan in June‚ the opportunity arose to play for the Glasgow Warriors later this year.
Western Province released Jones but were hoping that he would have one more Stormers Super Rugby campaign in him.
Jones was supposed to see out the current season before returning to Britain.
Cheslin Kolbe (ankle sprain) and Jano Vermaak (calf strain) will both return to training next week and should be in contention to play against the Cheetahs at Newlands on April 1.
Flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis is progressing well, following a pelvic bone stress injury, and should be available for selection in three to five weeks time.
Also on the injury list is flank Steph de Wit, hooker Scarra Ntubeni and wing Leolin Zas.