Stormers, Springboks handed huge Roos boosts as horror injury not as bad as first feared

The Stormers – and consequently the Springboks – were handed a huge boost after scans revealed that star No 8 Evan Roos’ knee injury wasn’t a season-ending one, as initially feared.

Roos left the field in the 22nd minute of their 35-5 United Rugby Championship (URC) defeat to Ulster in Belfast last Friday night, with head coach John Dobson fearing the absolute worst and that his season might have ended.

The injury to Roos occurred when Ulster flanker Nick Timoney and eighthman Duane Vermuelen cleared him from a ruck in the 14th minute, which saw him twist his knee as he fell backwards awkwardly. 

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Roos was seen on crutches immediately after the game. It was thought maybe Roos’ Rugby World Cup chances might also have gone up in flames in Belfast.

But on Tuesday, Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman confirmed that Roos could return to action by the URC playoffs in may after scans revealed that his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) was still intact.

However, the Springbok eighthman suffered damage to his medial cruciate ligament (MCL), which would keep him out for roughly three months rather than the entire season, which is often the case with an ACL tear.

"Evan went to the doctor and did scans yesterday (Monday), and luckily, we got some good news. The injury is not too bad.

"He’s got some damage to the MCL, but the ACL is intact, so that means he’ll be back, hopefully at the start of the playoffs or a little bit earlier.

"In terms of him [not] being out for the season, those were good news from the doctor."

Roos had a barnstorming 2021-22 season and forced his way into the international setup, where he made his debut against Wales in