Siya Kolisi will not play rugby for six weeks due to an ankle injury it was announced on Monday. According to Stormers coach Allister Coetzee, this is the “curse of the loose forwards”.

After takig the man of the match title on Saturday in the Stormers 28-3 win over the Cheetahs, reports suggest Kolisi’s injury was not noticed until Sunday. The injury was confirmed on Monday with a scan showing a torn ligament. Coetzee said at a press conference in Belville on Monday:

I have to start with the news we’ve become used to, the curse of the loose forwards – Siya is out for six weeks. He’s torn an ankle ligament. It’s the least problematic one, so he will be back within six weeks. But he is in a boot.

It’s not as bad as the syndesmosis that Peter Grant, Michael Rhodes, Eben Etzebeth and Frans Malherbe have – that’s the big one that can keep you out for up to 12 weeks. So, there won’t be any surgery. It happened during the game – he had it in the first half, but didn’t even feel it and completed the match. He only felt it on Sunday.

According to Coetzee, 12 of the top players are missing from the squad. Coetzee said:

It’s almost like we are immune to that feeling of being disappointed when we pick up an injury. We’ve got 12 top players out now with Siya, which is almost a full team. Pat, Tiaan, Frans, Andries, Rynhardt, Siya, Schalk, Michael Rhodes and Duane. Jean, Jaco Taute and Peter Grant. Geez, it’s quite a (list).

Despite Bryan Habana, Elton Jantjies, Steven Kitshoff and De Kock Steenkamp sitting out during training on Monday, Coetzee said the four would be fit to play against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth.

[Source: IOL]