After the second round of the Super 14 2009, there are no less than 15 All Black players sidelined with injuries.

The disturbing list includes three of the All Blacks’ biggest stars: Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Ali Williams while Mils Muliaina, Richard Kahui, Leon MacDonald, Brad Thorn and Andrew Hore are all on the mend.

Blues hooker Keven Mealamu has also been struggling with a calf injury while Conrad Smith, Piri Weepu, Jimmy Cowan, Jamie Mackintosh, Rudi Wulf and Sione Lauaki have all missed Super rugby action this year through a variety of complaints.

A distressed Hurricanes coach, Colin Cooper believes that modern rugby players are struggling to cope with the demands placed on their bodies due to the intensity and volume of competitions.

“Fifteen is a lot isn’t it,” he said. “I didn’t realise it was quite that many,” Cooper told Rugbyheaven New Zealand.

“I probably shouldn’t be surprised though. I think we are going to see a lot more of this unless something changes.

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Stormers and Springbok fans and coaching staff would have breathed a sigh of relief this weekend with the news that the injury sustained by Jean de Villiers is not that serious.

De Villiers took a heavy knock to the head four minutes into the second half of the 15-20 Super 14 loss to the Sharks at Newlands on Saturday and he was stretchered off and taken to hospital immediately.

It was feared that he would be out for a long time.

However, Stormers media manager Frikkie Erasmus said on Sunday allayed those fears.

Even though De Villiers was taken to hospital for tests on Saturday, he was later discharged.

“I have spoken to the doctor and he has reassured me that it is nothing serious,” Erasmus said.

“Jean will be playing again as soon as he feels comfortable.

“We don’t know yet how long he will be out, but he was just taken to hospital as precaution and the tests were also precautionary.

“He is stiff and sore but other than that it is nothing serious. It is definitely not concussion and he suffered more from whiplash. We will be monitoring his situation during the week.”

* There was no immediate news on the other Springbok, lock Victor Matfield, who also suffered an injury at the weekend.

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The Stormers launched their Super 14 campaign on Wednesday at Newlands with an introduction ceremony. The Stormers girls entertained the crowd after which Rassie Erasmus spoke briefly about the season. Jean de Villiers, Stormers captain, then proceeded to introduce the players ony by one.

Rassie Erasmus have chosen the strongest possible Stormers team possible to face the English club Saracens in the friendly Super 14 warm-up match at Newlands on Sunday.

Percy Montgomery will get a chance to return to the Stormers No15 jersey in the absence of the injured Springbok fullback Conrad Jantjes and Schalk Burger will be out for another week with a foot complaint, otherwise the team looks a close replica of the one likely to start the Super 14 campaign against the Sharks on Valentine’s Day.

Duane Vermeulen, the star loose-forward newcomer from the Cheetahs, will start in the No7 jersey, with Francois Louw being entrusted with the task of taking over Burger’s openside duties for this match.

“As you know, in our side the No8 is the openside,” joked Erasmus, who has often expressed the opinion that numbers on the back mean little to the loose-forward configuration.

“Francois will have the job of doing most of the work of the openside flanker in this game, but they will help each other out and do a bit of both.”

Vermeulen is normally a No8, so it is interesting to see Luke Watson retained at No8. What will be even more interesting, however, will be to see what Erasmus does with his selection once Burger is fit again.

As anticipated, Erasmus is giving Tongan Alipate Fatafehi, who apparently showed some good touches in an opposed practice session against UCT last weekend, a chance to show what he can do in a match situation.

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The Pumas have answered the Sharks call to play against them in a Super 14 warm-up match to replace the match that had been cancelled against the Cheetahs.

The Sharks were due to face the Bloemfontein team in Dubai this weekend at the start of the onfield part of their preparation phase to the southern hemisphere competition, but it was cancelled when the sponsors pulled out due to financial pressure created by the credit crunch.

Sharks coach John Plumtree was angered when the Cheetahs then organised a match against Griquas rather than agree to an alternative venue to their scheduled clash.

On Monday, however, the Pumas came to the Sharks’ aid by agreeing to host them in Witbank on Saturday.

The match won’t provide quite the same intensity the Sharks may have been hoping for from a game against the Cheetahs, but the switch in plan may be a blessing in disguise as it offers Plumtree an opportunity to run a line through the several young players who are coming through the system in Durban.

“It may not be the same intensity as a game against the Cheetahs, but we do have a game against the Bulls scheduled for the following week anyway, so we should get the required intensity from that,” said Plumtree on Monday afternoon.

“There have been several High Performance Centre players who have really impressed me in the past few months of the off-season, and this will be a great opportunity for me to see them play in match conditions.”

Plumtree said that up to 12 of the top Sharks players will sit out the Pumas match, which means the Witbank exercise will provide the franchise with a great test of its depth. But the young players will not be completely without star teammates from whom they can learn.

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6 February has been set as the date for the anouncement of the five South African Super 14 squads.

The announcement was made following a meeting between SA Rugby personnel and franchise coaches and chief executives in Johannesburg.

“It was a very good, positive meeting which allowed us to update the teams on Super Rugby matters and confirm a date for the naming of squads,” said Andy Marinos, the acting managing director of SA Rugby.

“The teams updated us on their injury situations and in the first week of February there will be a series of meetings between the individual coaches, Peter de Villiers, the selectors and myself before the submission of the final squads on February 6.”

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Rassie Erasmus, Stormers coach might have a few tricks up his sleeve for the warm-up game against Saracens at Newlands on the 25th January 2009.

Nick Koster, who made his Western Province debut at No 8 last year, is training among the backline players. Erasmus could experiment with him on the wing.

Tongan sevens player Alipate Fatafehi also linked up with the Stormers for a trial this week. He stands 1.93m tall and weighs 112kg.

“He’s training with us this week. He’s a big guy that can play centre, wing and fullback,” said Erasmus.

He added that Fatafehi “might” stay on with the Stormers. At this stage he is set to leave Cape Town on Sunday.

That could depend on the impression he leaves on the Stormers coaching staff this week. If he stays on, he could be used against Saracens.

Erasmus is expected to pick a strong side for the game against the English club side. It’s possible that the number of substitutes allowed may not be limited to seven.

“Nick is 19, weighs 106kg and runs the 100m in 11 seconds. He is a great player in the making,” said Erasmus.

“There are currently plenty of loose forwards around that are big, strong and physical. I want to try a few things with Nick. He has the skills of a backline player.

“Perhaps he’s a little inexperienced, but physically he is the equal of any backline player in South Africa.”

If the experiment works, Erasmus may even use Koster there in the Super14, with Gcobani Bobo and Sireli Naqelevuki possibly competing for the No 13 jersey.

Naqelevuki did well for WP when he played centre in Bobo’s absence during last year’s Currie Cup.

A handful of Stormers are still struggling with injury niggles.

Flyhalf Willem de Waal (hand) and fullback Conrad Jantjes (groin) are likely to miss the game against Saracens.

Centre Jean de Villiers (groin) and flank Schalk Burger (ankle) both have niggles, but should be ready.

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