Louw boost for Stormers
Head coach Robbie Fleck named a 47-man squad on Thursday. However, a number of those players will not be available for the Stormers' opening match against the Jaguares at Newlands as well as their three-match Australasian tour.
Those players are Eben Etzebeth (shoulder), Siyabonga Ntubeni (hamstring), Alistair Vermaak (hamstring), Jano Vermaak (knee), Jean-Luc du Plessis (groin), Daniel du Plessis (shoulder), Frans Malherbe (neck) and Juarno Augustus (back).
Fullback Sarel Marais is another player who will miss the Jaguares match, but there is a chance that could be fit for the tour. The Stormers will face the Waratahs, Crusaders and the Highlanders on consecutive weekends in Australasia after the Jaguares clash.
A decision surrounding Marais' availability for that tour will be made next week.
Meanwhile, there was some good news on the injury front for the Cape side.
Wilco Louw's hip injury he suffered in a pre-season clash against the Bulls last weekend is not serious and he is set to return to full training on Monday.
Captain Siyamthanda Kolisi (hamstring) and lock Pieter-Steph du Toit (back) are also set to be available for the opener against the Jaguares.
Stormers squad: Juarno Augustus, Craig Barry, Nizaam Carr, Jaco Coetzee, Damian de Allende, Jan de Klerk, Paul de Wet, Stephan de Wit, Dan du Plessis, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Johan du Toit, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Dewaldt Duvenage, JJ Engelbrecht, Eben Etzebeth, Neethling Fouche, Jacobus Janse van Rensburg, Steven Kitshoff, Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), Dan Kriel, Dillyn Leyds, Wilco Louw, Frans Malherbe, Sarel Marais, Bongi Mbonambi, Salmaan Moerat, Dean Muir, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Siyabonga Ntubeni, Caylib Oosthuizen, Sergeal Petersen, Justin Phillips, Raymond Rhule, Carlu Sadie, Ramone Samuels, John Schickerling, Seabelo Senatla, Joshua Stander, Kobus van Dyk, Chris van Zyl, Alistair Vermaak, Jano Vermaak, EW Viljoen, George Whitehead, Cobus Wiese, Damian Willemse, Eddie Zandberg.
By Warren Fortune
@FortuneWarren
@rugby365com
