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Springbok Etzebeth's return hit by 'setback'

Etzebeth suffers injury setback

There is still some uncertainty about when Eben Etzebeth will return to the playing field.

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The Bok lock was beginning to make his comeback from a shoulder injury he suffered in the Springboks’ tour match against Wales in Cardiff in November last year.

However, Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck said Etzebeth’s return was put on hold due to an injury he suffered in training during the June international break.

“He had a bit of a setback two weeks ago in training. He did a bit of damage to his back, so that set him back a week which affected this week,” said Fleck ahead of his team’s Super Rugby Round 17 clash against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.

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“Hopefully he has a great week training with the [Western] Province side back at home and we can look at him again from a selection point of view for next week against the Sharks.

“Every time he has a little bit of a setback and obviously it affects his return to play. We can’t really put a time to it, it is a big injury he is coming back from.

“We would obviously like to have him in the mix, but I don’t know where we sit at the moment. We will have to have a look at him again when we get back. I don’t think it is looking promising that he is going to be playing Super Rugby this year with only one game left.”

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After their match against the Jaguares, the Stormers face the Sharks in Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday, July 7.

The Stormers have a bye in the final round.

Credit: @Rugby365

In other news: Joe Powell signs new deal with Brumbies and Wallabies

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Nickers 25 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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