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Stormers face hooker crisis

Stephen Nell

Cape Town – Why?

That is probably the question on the lips of many Stormers supporters after the team lost top hooker Tiaan Liebenberg with a knee injury in a friendly match against Boland on Saturday.

Liebenberg, who was stretchered off the field after just over 30 minutes of play in the Stormers’ 34-6 win, has injured medial ligaments in his right knee and is expected to be sidelined for 8-9 weeks.

The Stormers’ medical staff are hopeful of having him ready to play by the time the Stormers embark on their tour of Australia and New Zealand. They start with 10 games in South Africa.

Exactly what else Stormers coach Allister Coetzee would have taken from the match – except that top players such as Schalk Burger and Jean de Villiers got the required game time after missing last week’s clash with the Sharks due to attending the wedding of Butch James – is anybody’s guess.

The match was Boland’s fixture and one with which the Stormers could really have done without, especially now that they have paid the price of an injury to Liebenberg.

The fitness of Deon Fourie is now becoming paramount for the Stormers, who can even consider bringing in a hooker from outside the region.

Fourie’s involvement in the pre-season was very limited due to him having had blood in his urine over the past few weeks. It is believed that he took a blow to the kidneys after also undergoing shoulder surgery in the off-season.

Siyabonga Ntubeni, who still played for the Western Province under-19 side last year, performed well enough as a substitute against Boland.

“Skarra (Ntubeni) used his chance and we know Deon’s capabilities. We’re always concerned about potential injuries, but have to trust our depth. Callie Visagie (Maties captain) is also in the province,” said Coetzee.

Visagie, however, is focusing on his studies and has not signed a contract with WP for this year. Sidney Tobias, son of former Springbok Errol, is the other possibility after playing for the WP under-21 side last year.

When asked whether the Stormers may look outside the province for a hooker, Coetzee answered: “We’ll consider all possibilities.”

The Stormers now find themselves in a difficult position. The official word is that Fourie is recovering well, but it leaves them one injury short of a major crisis.

It’s one thing to trust your young players, but quite another for a 20-year-old to mix it as a tight forward in Super Rugby. The Vodacom Cup probably offers a sensible career path for Ntubeni and Tobias this year.

There is obviously the danger of a knock-on effect from the scrums and lineouts if a team’s hooker struggles.

Liebenberg is the Stormers’ third serious pre-season injury. Lock Anton van Zyl (dislocated shoulder) and wing Gio Aplon (he went for a scope on his right knee) are the others.
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