Short-term pain for long-term gain as Stormers take it easy on Evan Roos for rest of 2022

Evan Roos will, in all likelihood, only re-appear for the Stormers in the new year.

Stormers mentor John Dobson on Friday confirmed that the rising Springbok prospect and reigning URC Player of the Year's fractured rib - sustained in the South Africa's comprehensive victory over England last weekend - will keep him on the sidelines for the next three to four weeks.

While that news represents some potential short-term pain for the Cape franchise, especially with a Champions Cup debut away to Clermont looming next week, team management hope a measured recovery will bring longer-term gain.

"It's touch-and-go for the local derbies [at the end of the month]. I'm not sure whether he'll make those," said Dobson.

"We'll see in about two weeks' time how he's progressing and if he's improved dramatically we might look at throwing him in. But it's a long season and a big year for him personally next year too.

"In our experience, rib injuries are very painful for players."

15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Tristan Leyds, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Kwenzo Blose

Substitutes: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Deon Fourie, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Kade Wolhurter, 23 Mnombo Zwelendaba

Roos isn't the only Bok not featuring for the Stormers in their meeting with the Dragons in Gqeberha on Saturday as stalwarts Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe and Damian Willemse have all been given the week off.

That didn't prevent others such as Manie Libbok and Marvin Orie insisting on featuring, prompting Dobson to treat each of his national