Feinberg-Mngomezulu on crutches as Stormers count injury cost ahead of Leinster semi-final

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu left the Stormers’ 44-21 URC quarter-final victory over Cardiff on crutches after injuring his ankle in the act of scoring a try in the second half, casting serious doubt over the Springbok flyhalf’s availability for next weekend’s semi-final against Leinster in Dublin.

Head coach John Dobson did not hide his concern after the match at the Cape Town stadium. “It looks pretty serious, to be honest,” he said. “He’s obviously going for a scan. The doctors have given me some feedback, but it looks like a proper ankle injury. He was cramping a bit before then and looked uncomfortable when he started running back. We haven’t confirmed anything yet, but it’s concerning.”

Dobson acknowledged the scale of the potential loss but pointed to the character of his squad. “It’s a big blow. But whenever we take a knock, this group tends to pull together and fight.”

Feinberg-Mngomezulu is not the only player the Stormers will be monitoring. Winger Seabelo Senatla has already been ruled out of the semi-final after being placed in HIA category one protocols following a head knock. Dobson was effusive about Senatla’s display before the injury intervened. “I thought he was absolutely magnificent. For a guy who has been out for so long, his work in the air, his defence and his work rate were outstanding. That’s a hell of a blow for us.”

Lock Ruben van Heerden and centre Dan du Plessis are also carrying knocks, leaving the Stormers potentially without four key players for what is the most demanding fixture remaining in their URC campaign.

Leinster, their opponents in the last four, demolished the Lions 59-10 in their own quarter-final, underscoring the scale of the task awaiting a Stormers side that will now travel to Dublin with a depleted squad. In the other semi-final, the Bulls will face top seed Glasgow Warriors.