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Stormers update explains why Salmaan Moerat is Springboks tour doubt

Salmaan Moerat in Springboks action last June in London (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

It has been recorded as a “small procedure”, but there is no guaranteed that Stormers captain and sometimes Springboks skipper Salmaan Moerat will play again this year. Stormers attack coach Dawie Snyman dropped the injury bombshell on the media on Wednesday, revealing that Moerat could miss the November internationals.

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It will be another drain on the Springboks’ already depleted second row resources. “Salmaan isn’t available for this week or next week’s game (against Glasgow Warriors),” Snyman said in the build-up to this week’s round five United Rugby Championship face-off against Munster.

Snyman did not clarify if Moerat will be available for South Africa’s year-end tour – which will see them play Scotland, England and Wales. “He had a small procedure,” the assistant coach said, adding: “He’s got a small injury.”

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It is the latest in a series of injury setbacks that are threatening the talented lock’s progress. Having captained his country at every level, the 26-year-old Moerat has been earmarked as a “long-term project” by Bok coach Rassie Erasmus.

However, in the last two years, he suffered a serious knee ligament injury, a torn chest muscle and several concussion-enforced lay-offs. It appears that Moerat will most likely only be back for the coastal derby against the Sharks in Durban on November 30.

Fixture
Internationals
Scotland
15 - 32
Full-time
South Africa
All Stats and Data

With locks Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert also set to miss the November Tests, the return to fitness of Rudolf Snyman and Jean Kleyn could not have come at a better time.

Meanwhile, Snyman said he is confident the Stormers can turn around their poor start to the season when they face Munster and Glasgow in the next fortnight – games played in Cape Town and Stellenbosch respectively.

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“They have world-class players in a lot of positions with a good set piece, good running game and good defence,” Snyman said of Munster, a team that beat the Stormers in the 2023 URC final in Cape Town. “They are a very efficient side,” Snyman added. “It is a tough team to break down. We came close last year at Thomond Park when they had all their internationals and we were missing some Springboks.

“Every time we played against them, we learnt a bit and I think they have ideas on how to break us down, but it’s going to be a nice challenge and you want to be part of those big games. You want to be challenged by a big team like Munster.”

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23 Comments
B
Bull Shark 36 days ago

Sjoe. A lot of Moerat Haters.


He may not have shone exceptionally brightly in the Green and Gold (yet). But his pedigree and reasons for getting into the Bok fold speak for themselves.

N
Ninjin 35 days ago

Not really. The word from the WC clubs are that he was chosen to be the next Springbok captain a while back already. The problem is that there are better locks atm to select from. If he does not raise his game the quota bandwagon will start up again

L
Lulu 36 days ago

Not hating on him. Stating what i have seen of him.What has he brought to the table. He has been poor with on field performances. The SA lock stocks are incredible and to say he is next in line is baffling

L
Lulu 36 days ago

Never understood the hype around this player. Bang average. Not even a good average. With all the talented 2nd rowers in SA how does he make the squad

J
JH 36 days ago

Good news if he’s not touring. The guy is a mystery selection to me. When he isn’t injured, he’s often MIA.

N
Ninjin 35 days ago

He has a reputation comming from a rich in history rugby family. Pre chosen as Springbok captain. Super proud another Paarl boy captained the Bokke but he has to up his game.

J
JD 36 days ago

I've never understood the fuss about Moerat, but then maybe I'm naive. I wish him a speedy recovery but I never want to see him anywhere near a Springbok jersey again. He does nothing; can't jump, can't carry and only tackles intermittently. The guy is NOT a Springbok. Not even close.

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Hellhound 21 minutes ago
France put World Cup pain behind them with unbeaten run in November

France is starting to look like they are finally over their WC headache, although they were lucky that NZ had a very bad game. The Argies as usual is one game good, the next bad. If they can sort that out and be more consistent, they could become contenders for the WC.


NZ, Argentina (if they are more consistent), and now the Wallabies too is in an upward curve (can they be consistent?), as well as Fiji(as inconsistent as Argentina) looks like possible contenders. The Boks will be as usual a huge threat to defend their title. Things are looking up for the South, so the North should rightfully beware of the Southern Hemisphere threat.


With the French looking dangerous, the English with their close runs (mostly a mindset problem) and the Scottish seems to be the NH main contenders. The Irish is good, but not excellent anymore. They are more overbearing and with their glory days mostly gone with old players hanging on by a thread, by 2027 if they don't start adding in the younger players, they won't make it past yet another WC Quarter final. The problem is that their youngsters, while good is nothing special.


That is just 8 teams without the Irish that can become real WC contenders. Lots of hickups to be sorted still for these teams, excluding the Boks to become a threat. Make no mistake, the top Tier is much closer than people realise and the 2027 WC will be a really great WC, possibly the best contended WC ever.

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