Wing Seabelo Senatla has been ruled out for six weeks, while several Stormers players battle flu ahead of their match against the Blues on Saturday.

Senatla sustained a groin injury in the match against the Highlanders last Saturday and coach Robbie Fleck confirmed on Tuesday that the 25-year-old will be sidelined for at least six weeks. Senatla’s injury is a huge blow for the Stormers, who are already without the services of SP Marais and Sergeal Petersen.

‘We are hearing that Seabelo Senatla could be out for six weeks,’ said Fleck. ‘But it is what it is. Fortunately, we have JJ Engelbrecht who can cover both centre and wing, and we have called Craig Barry back from the Cheetahs.’

The Stormers coach also confirmed that his team’s preparation for their crucial game at Newlands was disrupted after several players came down with the flu.

‘Last week, before we played the Highlanders, quite a few guys were crocked by flu and now quite a few other players and management members have been linked on to that,’ said Fleck.

‘It has been a really strong dose of flu that has hit us. Pieter-Steph du Toit passed his concussion tests last week but was then ruled out of sitting on the bench in Dunedin because of flu. Damian de Allende also had flu and so did SP. Now a couple of other boys have it and are resting up in bed. It hangs around for a week so it is problematic.

‘The guys pitched for a training session and a meeting [on Tuesday] but we had to send half the management members home as well as a good few players so it was pointless doing anything. Most of the guys will need until Thursday anyway, and we will just have to make do with a busy day on Thursday.’

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