Injury blow for Stormers

As if their record 57-24 defeat to the unbeaten Crusaders wasn’t enough of a bitter pill to swallow, the Stormers were also forced to call in two reinforcements yesterday.

Lock JD Schickerling and loose forward Kobus van Dyk, who both made their Super Rugby debuts last season, would join the Stormers in New Zealand, it was confirmed, as injury cover ahead of their next fi xture against the Highlanders in Dunedin this weekend.

Both centre Dan du Plessis (above) and flank Cobus Wiese were on their way home due to shoulder injuries sustained against the Crusaders in Christchurch, and they would be assessed in Cape Town.

The other casualty from Christchurch was lock Chris van Zyl who was ruled out for a week with concussion.

Schickerling was returning from a minor ankle injury, whilst Van Dyk has starred for Maties in the Varsity Cup this year.

The Stormers would, however, welcome the return of regular captain Siya Kolisi at flank, after he was rested last week, which would see Pieter-Steph du Toit return to lock after he was out of his depth at blindside flank.

Stormers flyhalf Robert du Preez was disappointed with the basic errors they made, both in defence and on attack.

“We basically lost too much ball in contact,” Du Preez said.

Trailing 36-3 at half-time, the Stormers hit back with three tries in the second half though wings Cheslin Kolbe and Bjorn Basson and a late effort from prop Frans Malherbe who replaced Wilco Louw from the bench.