The Stormers have addressed the condition of Manie Libbok after the fly-half was taken to hospital following a shocking hit during their Investec Champions Cup defeat.
The Springboks playmaker was knocked out and subsequently stretchered off after he was hit high by Toulon’s Yannick Youyoutte in the 72nd minute of their 24-14 defeat.
Youyoutte was red carded for a tackle that led to serious concern around the pivot, who has been a key part of the team for the past three years.
Keke Morabe and Ben-Jason Dixon also left the pitch injured on Saturday as the Cape Town-based outfit suffered a high attrition rate in the Champions Cup clash.
The Stormers announced that Libbok’s and Morabe’s stays in hospital were brief, although the latter will have to undergo surgery on a broken leg.
Stormers statement
“Manie Libbok, Keke Morabe and Ben-Jason Dixon all travelled back to Cape Town with the DHL Stormers squad on Sunday after leaving the field with injuries in the Investec Champions Cup game against RC Toulon at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday,” a statement read.
“Libbok (concussion) and Morabe (leg fracture) were both taken to hospital in Gqeberha for observation and returned to the team hotel on Saturday evening.
“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.
“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.”
Stormers head coach John Dobson was hugely concerned post-match about Libbok following the heavy hit from the Toulon replacement, which was described as “sickening” on social media.
“Manie is very bad, he has gone to hospital. Normally with a concussion, you don’t go straight to the hospital – so I’d imagine there is some concern there,” Dobson said.
“BJ failed his second HIA, Ruben [van Heerden] is sore but nothing too serious. It is quite a bad day at the office as it is.”
Injury woes
The injuries sustained added names to an already lengthy list, which includes Test stars Malherbe, Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Kitshoff and Willemse.
“The truth is we are running out of cattle,” Dobson added.
“It’s a sore changing room, two guys are in hospital. It was a brutal game. We stuck around and the fight was nice but there aren’t many bigger teams, compared to La Rochelle, it was tough.
“For us, and some might say it is an excuse, but not through substitutions or selections, but to play that game without Deon, Evan, Keke, BJ, Frans, Kitsie, Damian, Sacha, Manie – it’s not insignificant.”
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/stormers-provide-update-on-manie-libbok-after-springboks-fly-half-hospitalised-following-sickening-tackle
