Stormers and Springbok flyer Gio Aplon took a horrific knock against the Rebels, resulting in him slumping to the floor in one of the most awkward looking positions we’ve seen. Luckily he soldiered on, and will be available for their next match.
The Stormers beat the Rebels 26-21 in Cape Town in a less than convincing display that may have raised a few eyebrows ahead of their Super Rugby semi final clash. They were however in control for most of the game, so will be confident going forward.
They’ve been the most watched team this season, with statistics released last week showing that while they continue to pack their home ground of Newlands, they also consistently rank number one in terms of TV viewership for the competition.
Exciting players such as Aplon have a lot to do with that, and while they haven’t scored many tries this season, their consistent defence has meant that they’ve also conceded the least.
Aplon was unfortunate to be on the end of a clumsy Rynhardt Elstadt elbow midway through the first half as he flew into a tackle situation unaware that his left arm would produce a knockout blow.
Aplon folded in two, and while hooker Tiaan Liebenberg tried desperately to get referee Lourens van der Merwe to stop the match, he allowed play to continue for a few more phases.
Thankfully Aplon, one of the smallest players in professional rugby, made a full recovery and resumed his place on the wing for the rest of the match. He has since been cleared to play in the Stormers semi final. If they win that, they will host the Super Rugby final for the first time.
Stormers vs Rebels match highlights | Super Rugby Round 18 highlights
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