Rhodes to miss Chiefs clash

Editor

Stormers flanker Michael Rhodes has been ruled out of Saturday's Super Rugby clash with the Chiefs at Newlands due to an ongoing knee issue.

Rhodes suffered the injury against the Lions on February 28 and subsequently did not feature against the Sharks in the Stormers' recent game last weekend.

The team plays host to the Chiefs this weekend and are also monitoring the fitness of locks Ruan Botha and Eben Etzebeth and hooker Scarra Ntubeni. Meanwhile, wing Kobus van Wyk and forward Jurie van Vuuren are both fit enough for selection as head coach Allister Coetzee looks to Saturday.

"They're a quality team with a quality coach in Dave Rennie and it's not for nothing that they've won this competition twice in the past three years. They have a strong set-piece and boast quality players across the board," he said.

"The challenges seem to be getting bigger in this tournament.

"The Chiefs can generate their own ball through their solid set-piece and, of course, are dangerous in broken play. Nothing less than what we have seen (from ourselves) and better will do this week. They will also be hurting after their loss to the Highlanders this past weekend – they are on this tour to win, nothing less will do for them."