Several World Cup-winning Springboks have been sidelined for months, most of whom play for the Stormers.

Following Manie Libbok’s horrific injury against Toulon last weekend, the Cape Town outfit’s wounded tally notched up to a sombre thirteen, but this is expected to drop to nine before the end of the year.

There is potential, however, to get their injury list down to seven if Libbok and Ben-Jason Dixon pass their HIA protocols in the coming weeks.

“Salmaan Moerat (knee), Sti Sithole (ankle), Frans Malherbe (ankle), Deon Fourie (knee) and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (concussion) are all expected to make their return before the end of the year, while Steven Kitshoff (neck), Evan Roos (shoulder), Dan du Plessis (knee), Ben Loader (knee) and Damian Willemse (groin) all continue their rehab and are scheduled to return to play in the new year,” the Stormers revealed.

“[Keke] Morabe will undergo surgery on Monday which will rule him out long-term, while Libbok and Dixon will be reassessed after 12 days as per HIA protocols.”

The Springboks were hit with several injury blows during 2024, despite ending the year number one on the World Rankings – Rassie Erasmus will be pleased to see Moerat, Malherbe, Fourie and Feinberg-Mngomezulu returning to the field.

Libbok update

It was a nasty Yannick Youyoutte red card tackle that led to Libbok being stretchered off against the French side – a challenge so grim that some initially viewed it as career-ending for the Humansdorp native.

However, Springboks and Stormers fans were delighted to hear that he would be returning to the Mother City with his teammates; but, he’s still feeling the hit.

“Manie is very bad – he’s gone to hospital, normal concussion you don’t go straight to hospital,” said Stormers coach John Dobson.

“If you look at the nature of the injuries … we’re not doing soft tissue injuries, it’s trauma injuries. It’s a bit like frogs in the pot – when you look up and it’s suddenly boiling you realise all those guys are out, and it’s tough.”

Who is your favourite Springbok?

Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.

You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news and views.

Src: TheSouthAfrican.com - https://rugga.co.za/springboks/four-springboks-poised-for-injury-return-manie-libbok-update/