Stormers remove two World Cup-winning Boks from Champions Cup squad
The Stormers have removed the injured duo of Steven Kitshoff and Damian Willemse from their Investec Champions Cup squad just days before their campaign gets underway.
The double World Cup-winning loosehead prop recently underwent neck fusion surgery, while Willemse is suffering from a groin injury in a year where he has been beset by issues.
Kitshoff was recently a guest on RugbyPass TV's Boks Office, where he detailed the severity of his injury and the surgery, saying: “It’s a bit of a stressful one because it’s such a high area of my neck – C1 and C2 – which is a bit of an issue."
The 32-year-old recently revealed on social media that he was "thrilled to share that my operation was a big success,” but added that it will be a "long recovery journey," which explains why he will be unavailable this weekend and beyond for the Stormers.
The pair have been deregistered for the opening round of the competition, against Toulon on Saturday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, with two additional players being added.
Zachary Porthen has been called up in Kitshoff's place, while Willemse has been replaced by Jonathan Roche.
Saracens have been forced into the same move ahead of their match against the Bulls, with second-row academy graduate Charlie Barker being replaced by Tiff Eden.
Only one other Champions Cup outfit has opted to alter their squad, with Leicester Tigers deregistering back-row Joshua Manz in order for Cameron Miell to join the squad for their trip to face Bordeaux-Begles.
Edinburgh have been forced into two squad changes ahead of their Challenge Cup meeting with Gloucester, with Scotland centre Mark Bennett and flanker Connor Boyle out. Euan McVie and Tom Currie will step in in their place.
The final squad change comes from France, where Perpignan have called up back-row Andro Dvali for Alan Brazo.
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Poorly written article. Claims Kolisi is playing 8 for Stormers and then quotes him as enjoying his new role as blind side flank. And also makes the claim that he plays blind side for the Boks when it is open side - just with the Boks different numbering. Jeesh.
Go to commentsSeems like AB selections have been personality based in recent years. Shooter is at least as dangerous as Jordan (maybe even better in the air) and they share the same mediocre defensive abilities but Shooter has always been publicly criticized for being defensively weak. Jordan gets a pass. Love is a first five playing fullback as is Perofeta and both need meaningful time in the position. I think our persistence with older players is based on a fallacy that if the player was good at some stage, he is must be better than newer players - despite being out-shone in head-to-heads in SRP. While we "can't keep them all" (and I wish Stevenson all the best - and riches - in Japan), I still feel he got a very short shot by AB selectors - while under the pressure of knowing they didn't believe in his abilities.
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