The Stormers’ rugby season has taken a turn for the worse as the list of injuries plaguing the team continues to grow, following their recent 24-14 defeat to Toulon in which key flyhalf Manie Libbok was taken to hospital after suffering a serious concussion.
Thats why red cards exist. No one could argue. Get off the field. And stay off.
— TIM (@timalive) December 7, 2024
I really hope Manie is ok
#stormers #ssrugby pic.twitter.com/H1p0MLOl8i
The grim situation was compounded by the flanker Ben-Jason Dixon, who also failed a head injury assessment and is likely to miss the upcoming Champions Cup match against Harlequins this Saturday. In a cruel twist of fate for the Stormers, promising loose forward Keke Morabe sustained a fractured leg, further depleting an already taxed roster.
Director of rugby John Dobson reflected on the impact of these injuries, acknowledging the emotional weight on the changing room.
“It's a sore changing room with two guys in the hospital.”
“It's a sore changing room with two guys in the hospital,” he said.
“This was a brutal game. We stuck around with our fight, but this is an international-laden side. They are comparable to La Rochelle.
“I don't think we were wasteful like last week (against the Sharks). Some might say it's an excuse, but to play this game without Frans (Malherbe), Kitsie (Steven Kitshoff), Damian (Willemse), Evan (Roos), Keke (Morabe), Sacha (Feinberg-Mngomezulu) and Manie (Libbok) – that is not insignificant. From that aspect, the way we stuck around, was good.”
Warrick Gelant is a master at producing magic 😏⭐
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) December 7, 2024
📺 Stream #InvestecChampionsCup on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/WZuI72zHAG
The match saw the Stormers initially take the lead at 14-10, thanks to incisive tries from fullback Warrick Gelant and hooker Joseph Dweba, who exploited a rolling maul to perfection.
However, the turning point came when they failed to capitalise on a potential scoring opportunity that could have expanded their lead. As penalties began to stack against them, and with a yellow card shown to loose forward Willie Engelbrecht, the momentum shifted, allowing Toulon to seize control.
Captain Neethling Fouche articulated the team's disappointment, highlighting a crucial missed opportunity just after they came out the cloak room.
“Just after half-time, we are on their try line and if we score there, we go up 21-10...”
“Just after half-time, we are on their try line and if we score there, we go up 21-10 and they would then probably ask more questions than us,” he explained.
“But we didn't finish there and it's penalty upon penalty – to them – and a yellow card. Suddenly, you are under pressure. It's helluva disappointing and nothing more to say.”
As the Stormers gear up for the second Champions CUp group game against Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop, they are confronted with a significant dilemma — whether to field their strongest team given the growing injury list.
The Stormers currently injured XV 🤕
— Angus (@AnalystGus) December 7, 2024
1 Kitshoff
2
3 Malherbe
4 Moerat
5
6 Fourie
7 Morabe
8 Roos
9
10 Libbok
11 Loader
12 SFM
13 du Plessis
14
15 Willemse
Eight Springboks. Huge losses.
Hopefully SFM should return next week.
Although regular captain Salmaan Moerat’s return after 30 minutes of action in a friendly match could provide a glimmer of hope, the prognosis remains bleak.
With Libbok potentially facing a lengthy absence due to his troubling head injury — prompting scans in hospital — attention has turned to Jurie Matthee, now the only fit flyhalf available. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu may also return if cleared from the concussion he sustained against the Sharks, but it would be a big risk to play him looking at the URC fixtures ahead.
Dobson remained firm on the nature of the injuries, stating they were traumatic rather than stemming from conditioning concerns.
“With a normal concussion, you don't go straight to hospital, so I'd imagine there is some concern with Manie.”
“With a normal concussion, you don't go straight to hospital, so I'd imagine there is some concern with Manie. Keke fractured his leg for the second time in nine months, which is really tough. I think it is the same one, I might be wrong. But we won't see him until next season.”
In a few weeks' time, the Stormers will face two crucial home games against the Lions and Sharks, critical for salvaging their United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign. Until then, they must navigate through this patch of adversity, desperate for fitness and potential recovery as the season trudges on.