By Adnaan Mohamed
What should be a fortress has become a minefield.
Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson has launched a blistering broadside at the Cape Town Stadium pitch, blaming its deteriorating condition for an alarming injury toll that has now left lock Adré Smith hospitalised with a serious knee infection.
“We were promised a world-class pitch, and we certainly don’t have one,” Dobson said, his words cutting sharper than a loose stud.
Speaking from London, where the Stormers are preparing for a pivotal Champions Cup clash against Harlequins on Sunday, a visibly agitated Dobson revealed that Smith is undergoing intensive medical treatment after suffering a deep knee wound during last weekend’s gritty 13–8 win over the Bulls.
Smith, who came off the bench in the bruising North–South derby, split his knee open on what Dobson described as a surface more suited to a ploughed field than elite rugby.
“There is no way to beat around the bush, or be polite about it,” Dobson said. “He split his knee and got an infection, where the field wasn’t adequately covered with grass. The doctors put it directly down to the condition of the field.”
Smith has already spent two days in hospital and is expected to remain under close medical supervision for at least another two, as the Stormers count the cost of what Dobson labelled an “enormous frustration” for management.
The lock is not alone. Dobson confirmed multiple players have emerged bloodied and burned by the abrasive surface, with turf toe, severe abrasions and infections becoming increasingly common.
“We’ve seen turf toe injuries, abrasions, infections and even an increased risk of concussion on an unpadded surface,” Dobson said. “Player safety is the biggest concern.”
The pitch woes trace back to the World Supercross Championship staged at the stadium on December 13, an event that ripped up the surface and left it struggling to recover. Despite that, 53,000 supporters packed the stands just three weeks later to witness the Stormers edge the Bulls, even as the grass remained thin, brown and bare.
Stormers Rugby CEO Johan le Roux previously described the surface as “absolutely sad”, while Cape Town Stadium Chief Operating Officer Louw Visagie has insisted the pitch is fit for purpose and meets World Rugby standards. It’s a view Dobson clearly does not share.
As if the surface scars were not enough, the Stormers’ casualty ward continues to swell. Veteran prop Ali Vermaak has ruptured his Achilles, while combative loose forward Ruan Ackermann faces months on the sidelines with a serious neck injury.
“Ali has ruptured his Achilles, which is a serious injury for any rugby player,” Dobson said. “It’s incredibly disappointing because of how popular and effective he’s been for us.
“Ruan has a bulging disc in his neck. Those injuries can be three months if you’re very lucky, but they can also be longer. I’d say it’s a good few months, which is a massive blow because he was exceptional, especially on defence.”
For a team built on physical dominance and relentless pressure, the Stormers now face a battle on two fronts, one against elite European opposition, and another against a home surface Dobson believes is breaking his players faster than any opponent ever could.
