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Stormers pay dearly for win
29/01/2008 11:39 - (SA)
Stephen Nell, Die Burger
Cape Town - The Stormers have paid dearly for their 72-10 victory in the Super 14 warm-up rugby match against Boland at the weekend.
Centre Corné Uys suffered a serious knee injury in the match at Wellington and could be out of action for between six and nine months.
Uys was injured in a late tackle after he had created fullback Gio Aplon's second try. He is likely to undergo surgery on Tuesday.
"It's one of the realities of rugby," a philosophical Uys said on Sunday after a doctor had diagnosed torn ligaments.
"He's talking about six months," Uys said. "This is a huge setback. I'm going to miss being part of the team. Something special is happening."
Uys has no hard feelings towards Alshaun Bock, who tackled him. "I don't think players are going out to hurt each other. It's something that happens in an instant. I'm not angry with anyone."
Uys may not have been a first-choice centre, but his injury means the Stormers have less depth in midfield.
Being able to operate at either inside or outside centre and after also doing well on the wing last season, Uys is a valuable player who showed good form on Saturday.
Gcobani Bobo was outstanding
"It's sad that we picked up a serious injury," Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus said.
There was some consolation, however, because former Springbok centre Gcobani Bobo was outstanding in the Stormers' backline. He could be a valuable asset this year.
The Western Province team, in beating the Boland B team 55-14, also showed some good depth in midfield.
Morgan Newman, the WP captain and inside centre, was one of the stars of the curtain-raiser.
Scrumhalf Conrad Hoffman also performed well and the Stormers will do well to alternate him and Springbok Ricky Januarie in the second warm-up match, against WP on February 2.
"Ricky is the South African No 3 and sometimes No 2 scrumhalf," Erasmus said. "He will be considered for our next warm-up match.
"We now have to bring in players such as Ricky, Jean de Villiers, Conrad Jantjes and Brian Mujati."
Injured prop forward Eddie Andrews will not be available for that match.
- Die Burger
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