Springbok scrum star Frans Malherbe has yet to turn out for the Stormers this season and the reason has been revealed.
Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman divulged that the 32-year-old front row forward has been sidelined with an injury.
Why Springbok star has not played
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Snyman said that the issue was a chronic lower-back complaint that was being rehabbed at the Stormers’ facilities.
However, Snyman said it won’t be long before the Stormers can once again deploy their scrum weapon.
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“I am not sure exactly when he will be available, but he is at the facility [Stormers training base] doing his rehabilitation and getting himself ready to play again,” Snyman said in an interview with Rugby365.
“He struggled with it previously while with us.
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“He probably picked it up [aggravated it] in the World Cup.
“After the World Cup, he saw a few specialists.
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“He is up and running with us, so it should not be too long now.”
Bulls pack pose a massive challenge
The Stormers scrum has looked a little bit light and they found themselves under pressure during their clash with La Rochelle and with the Bulls looming in a URC derby this weekend there are concerns about the setpiece.
Of particular concern for the Stormers is the presence of former charge Wilco Louw in the Bulls front row. The capped international has been at the heart of an imperious Bulls pack.
Snyman paid tribute to the Bulls smart recruiting which sees them sport a very strong squad even when they don’t have their Springboks available.
“It’s something that they have worked on for a few seasons now,” Snyman said.
“It’s not just happened between the seasons.
“One or two players there are making a big difference,” Snyman added.
“Wilco has been giving them stability in the scrums, and the ability of Willie [le Roux] to combine with other players, that’s what they are doing well at the moment.
“There is just a little more variation in their game, which is great.
“It’s a nice challenge for us. It suits their players as well.
“If you have Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie on the wings, you want to get them the ball and they are doing that well.”