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Zachary Porthen has been called up in Kitshoff's place, while Willemse has been replaced by Jonathan Roche.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.
Latest Comments
Shag reluctantly giving a tiny bit of praise to Razor
Clearly backing his old mate Fozzie still
Razor gets a B for me
Not so much the results but more for the depth he is building
All losses were in single digits and the Boks were pushed until late on
I believe now the bench would be better prepared than during those losses
Argentina when up by 20-8 was a bad one but they are a very good side on the day as Aus and the Boks found out
Ireland scraping home
The French loss was disappointing but it was one point and far improved from their last two matches
And having to play essentially without a bench impact loose forward losing Finau in the first minute
As to being robbed in the final that is a bad comment Shag
No we were not
The cards were dished out correctly and the team fought valiantly with 14 men
I would say though that since then I have seen cards or even penalties where the ruling has been a low level of force
Personally I didn’t think the force was high on Kriel who got up smiling
But can’t really argue and the ABs played fine with 14
Go to commentsAhh okay. When you mentioned CURRENT win rate I thought you meant for this past season alone, not since taking over (2018 could hardly be thought of as current…no?) As well as Jacques spell? Anyway…
I really don’t think it’s about win ratios though, it’s too simplified, they simply show that he has consistently improved over time (contrary to illustrating your point) They also don’t take into account the amount of changes made to starting squads as well as changing and adapting game plans and styles - solid coaching.
Coaching staff don’t get their win bonuses for losing. Imagine going to your staff and saying, you may lose out on your bonus, but we have to adapt the squad, at your possible financial loss - solid coaching.
Building for the next WC in 2023 was never going to be a ‘win everything in sight’ while simultaneously changing the style of play and personnel. You’d agree that trying something new and blooding new players would obviously have a knock on effect, right? Understanding that and accepting that’s the route you think will bring future success - solid coaching.
Inspiring those boys to truly look at themselves and the part they played in that huge loss in New Zealand and to then go on and turn them in double world champions (with a little bit of luck but mostly a shit load of planning to cover the variables - thanks for helping me out there NB) - quite frankly a little bit better than solid coaching.
51 caps within a solid LAST season in which they recorded 11 wins in 13 (84% which is not fake, thats counting) feels absolutely light years away from that 57 - 0 thumping.
You asked for opinions on what he’s doing to receive the plaudits he’s getting, what sets him apart and my simple answer is;
No amount of win ratios and percentages can quantify what it takes to inspire a collection of individuals like that. To take a record losing, broken team and turn them into who they are now, thats not just hot air.
That’s absolutely rock solid coaching.
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