Veteran Deon Fourie’s Stormers season could be over after suffering a knee injury in the 38-38 draw with Ulster on Friday evening in Belfast.
While the Stormers came away with three points from the clash, they dropped to second on the United Rugby Championship (URC) log with one match remaining — against Cardiff in Wales on Friday.
The 39-year-old Fourie’s injury is a major blow for the Cape side ahead of the play-offs, and director of rugby John Dobson said there is no place in the game for the reckless clean-out that injured the veteran.
Fourie hobbled off inside the opening 12 minutes shortly after the injury, but not before attempting to soldier on. Ulster captain Iain Henderson initially received a yellow card for the croc-roll action at the breakdown, which was later upgraded to a red after a review.
“I feel very sorry for Deon Fourie,” Dobson said.
“That (croc-roll) has to be removed from the game, and the player (offending) must be removed for the entire match. Deon has damaged the medial ligaments in his knee, and we’ll have to learn that no player can survive that. If we don’t take that out, there’s no room for turnovers, and if there are no (ball) stealers (at the breakdown), the game becomes like rugby league.
“I don’t think a player wants to injure a guy’s knee deliberately, and I think the referee probably got it right. But it was a massive blow for us, especially with the form Deon is in. Paul (de Villiers) did a good job.”
Despite Fourie’s absence, De Villiers produced a couple of crucial turnovers for his side, and his influence will be key heading into the final round and the play-offs.
The Stormers must win the next clash to secure a home quarter-final.
