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Pieter-Steph back but Stormers wait on Jean-Luc

rugby13 May 2019 18:53| © Cycle Lab
By:JJ Harmse
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Pieter-Steph du Toit © Gallo Images

The good news for DHL Stormers fans was that Pieter-Steph du Toit was back in training when the Cape side began preparations on Monday for Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby clash with the Crusaders at Newlands.

The bad news though is that lock JD Schickerling will definitely be out of the game. According to defence coach Norman Laker, Schickerling sustained a hand injury against the Jaguares.

"I am not completely sure about the extent of JD's injury but he injured his hand in Buenos Aires and won't be playing against the Crusaders," said Laker.

First choice flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis also missed training due to a continuing slight hamstring strain that hampered him in the match against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires nine days ago.

The Stormers have been on bye since then, and the fact that Du Plessis was unable to train on Monday should be seen as a concern.

According to Stormers sources, a decision will be made on Du Plessis's readiness to play on Tuesday dependent upon how the pivot comes through the training sessions that are planned.

Should he not be cleared to play Joshua Stander is likely to start in the No 10 jersey.

Stander started against the Brumbies in the first match back from overseas against the Brumbies when Du Plessis was injured.

Otherwise, the Stormers team is likely to be their strongest combination minus Du Plessis and Ruhan Nel, who was injured in the build-up to the Bulls game.

Wing Sergeal Petersen was also injured in the match against the Jaguares, with another former Blitzbok star Seabelo Senatla likely to replace him.

BOOST MORALE

There was no official injury report from the Stormers on Monday, but judging from who was at training at the High Performance Centre on Monday, Juarno Augustus is also still out.

But there could be an interesting debate about whether he is ahead of Jaco Coetzee, who has been excellent this season, in the pecking order at No 8.

Of course the recently returned from injury Sikhumbuzo Notshe is also in the mix, although likely to play off the bench.

It will be the return of Du Toit from the injury that forced him off in the second half of the Bulls match and that of national captain Siya Kolisi, who was rested for the Jaguares game, that should most boost the Stormers' morale ahead of this important match.

The Stormers haven't hosted the Crusaders since 2013 and with the match being viewed as a quasi-derby because of the support the Kiwi side gets in the Cape it has been eagerly awaited.

The fact that the Sharks and Bulls both failed to win their matches at the weekend has further incentivised a Stormers team that has lost six out of 11 games but is still very much in the race for conference honours due to the inconsistency of the other South African teams plus the fact they are at home for four of their last five league matches.

The Stormers are currently five log points behind the log leading Sharks but have a game in hand.

The Sharks play two more games at home before travelling to the Jaguares and the Stormers, while the Bulls, who are one point behind the Sharks in second place, have left for Australasia and a tough four-match tour.

After the Crusaders game the Stormers play the Highlanders (home), Lions (away), Sunwolves (home) and Sharks (home).

Even if they don't beat the Crusaders they may fancy their chances of winning the remaining four matches.

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