Louw out for rest of season

Louw pulled up with a knee injury during the first half of the 51-16 win over the Western Force in Cape Town at the weekend and was helped from the field. He underwent x-rays on the injury on Sunday and Monday and the news that the Stormers had been fearing was confirmed – he will have to undergo an operation and will miss the rest of Super Rugby.

Although the loss of Louw coincides with the return of Schalk Burger from a knee injury, it is nonetheless a big blow to the Stormers as Louw was in excellent form and was crucial to the loose-forward depth at the Stormers. It could also be argued that when he was present he brought a balance to the loose-trio that maybe the Stormers lack when he is not there.

Nick Koster stepped in for Louw for the rest of the Force match and as the scoreline suggests he fitted in well, but he is more of a No 8 than a flank.

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee confirmed on Monday that Burger will come straight back into the starting team for Saturday’s clash with the Sharks in Durban, thus killing off any speculation that the Springbok might return from the bench after being laid off for nearly a month. He will also reassume the captaincy from Jean de Villiers.

Although he has not played in recent weeks, Burger has been working hard on the training field over the past fortnight and there was always a sense that the Stormers management were preparing him for the Durban match.

With Rynhardt Elstadt also essentially being rested for the Force game – apparently he could have played in that game at a push – there can be little doubt that the Stormers will be placing a massive emphasis on these two players helping Duane Vermeulen bring the physical edge that they will need against a Sharks team with Bismarck du Plessis and Willem Alberts in it.