Jantjies to miss Sharks clash

Editor

The Stormers will enter Saturday's must-win Super Rugby match against the Sharks without injured fly-half Elton Jantjies.

The Stormers will enter Saturday's must-win Super Rugby match against the Sharks without injured fly-half Elton Jantjies.

The back-up Springbok pivot has been ruled out of the Cape Town clash because of a knee injury sustained in last week's 26-24 loss to the Cheetahs.

However, Stormers coach Allister Coetzee confirmed that Jantjies will be fit to board the plane for the side's four-match tour of Australasia.

“Elton is not available for this week but his injury is not as bad as some have perceived, and he will be ready to play in three weeks' time,” said Coetzee.

“Hopefully that will mean he will be in the mix for our opening tour match against the Hurricanes.

“Elton has a medial ligament injury. It's an old injury that he picked up, but fortunately it is not torn, there is just a bit of a strain.

“It has nothing to do with the chest injury that placed him in doubt before the Cheetahs game. He got through the game without any ill effects from that complaint, and he put in some good tackles. It's just unfortunate that now he has injured his knee.”

With Jantjies out, Gary van Aswegen is expected to wear the number ten jersey on Saturday.

Meanwhile, full-back Jaco Taute will miss the rest of the season.

The Bok centre severely damaged his anterior cruciate (ACL) knee ligaments when he was tackled by Cheetahs wing Willie le Roux in Bloemfontein.

“Jaco is obviously the big injury as we are losing him for the rest of the season,” said Coetzee.

Bryan Habana and Gerhard van den Heever (knee injuries), Tiaan Liebenberg (elbow), Eben Etzebeth (ankle), Peter Grant (ankle) and Schalk Burger (knee) are other injury casualties for the Cape side.