Stormers winger Leolin Zas injured his knee during training on Wednesday ahead of the URC quarer-final against Cardiff.
Image: BackpagePix
The Stormers could be sweating over the fitness of one of their most prolific wings ahead of the United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-final against Cardiff in Cape Town, after Leolin Zas suffered a worrying knee knock at training on Wednesday.
During a wet and slippery session at the DHL Stadium in preparation for the knockout clash on Saturday afternoon (3.30pm kick-off), Zas had a coming together with Damian Willemse after the fullback slipped while trying to cover a kick through.
They collided, with Zas tumbling over Willemse and coming off second best, taking a knock to his already strapped right knee. Both players, crucial to the Stormers’ play-off ambitions, received brief treatment from team staff before continuing.
Willemse completed the session after initially appearing to have come off worse, but Zas was forced to cut his training short. He later had his knee heavily strapped with an ice pack and was seen hobbling through the tunnel after training. The injury appeared serious, but it seems he will be fit to play in Saturday afternoon’s clash.
If he is not available, though, the Stormers could look at Wandisile Simelane or Suleiman Hartzenberg to fill the vacant spot, while Willemse is also an option.
Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu also did not take part in training on Wednesday afternoon, with Jurie Matthee running at No 10. However, the expectation is that the Springbok star will play.
Stormers winger Leolin Zas watches training from the sidelines with an ice pack on his knee after a collision with fullback Damian Willemse during training on Wednesday ahead of the URC quarter-final against Cardiff this weekend.
Image: Leighton Koopman | Independent Media
Stormers scrumhalf Imad Khan, who is set to play in his first URC quarter-final, said after training that they are delighted to be back on the “green, green grass of home”. They endured some struggles on the 4G pitches in Ireland and Wales, but are hoping to bounce back this weekend, particularly with their attacking play.
“Cardiff (away from home) was a big wake-up call for us,” Khan said on Wednesday.
“That was our last league game, so going into the play-offs, there’s no time for mistakes. We don’t often get to play the same opposition back-to-back, so we definitely analysed the previous game and took some learnings from it.
“Now it is about executing that, and we have an opportunity to make things right. Playing away from home is always tough. You experience the way the crowds uplift their home team, and they are quite hostile in that tight stadium. So, when you play overseas, you definitely feel that.”
On Saturday, however, the Stormers will have the advantage of a packed DHL Stadium behind them as they chase a place in the semi-finals. Should the Lions upset Leinster in Dublin, a potential semi-final in Cape Town could await.
Khan said the team thrive on the energy of their home support and are determined to make the franchise proud every time they take the field at DHL Stadium.
“We want to score as many points as possible and keep that scoreboard pressure building. But we can only do that if we dominate the collisions and protect our possession at ruck time. That has been a big focus point for us over the last two weeks.
“We want to play quick rugby, whether we play on a 4G pitch or on grass. I think the ultimate thing is being able to play in front of your home crowd. We want to play good rugby at home and win this quarter-final.”