Fresh from winning their final Super Rugby warm-up game, reports claim the Stormers could lose Gert Smal.
Director of rugby Smal is reportedly ready to pack his bags at the end of the season and reunite with Jake White, who he helped win the 2007 World Cup on the Springbok coaching staff.
According to Rapport, there was more konkelling by new WP president Zelt Marais to remove Smal and replace him with former Stormers defence coach Paul Treu.
With the off-the-field battles roaring on behind the scenes, head coach Robbie Fleck and his team seem to be sailing without the members of the coaching staff being confirmed for the upcoming season.
On Friday, in their final game before the Super Rugby tournament opener against the Bulls at Loftus, the Stormers scored 13 tries to one in a 87-5 win over Boland.
HEADACHES: Robbie Fleck. Photo: CHRIS RICCO/BACKPAGEPIX
It was Fleck’s manne third pre-season win and first with his Springbok superstars.
And the performances of his back-up players have him forced him to “rethink one or two selections”.
He says: “One or two players did really well, which forces us to rethink things.
“The competition in the group is healthy and there’s a good vibe. "
The action in Wellington saw the likes of Bok props Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe leave the field, while No.8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe and flanker Cobus Wiese also made way for replacements.
NIGGLES: Steven Kitshoff. Photo: BACKPAGEPIX
But Fleckie assures fans that there are no serious injury worries.
He says: “Kitshoff may have tweaked a hammy, but Frans Malherbe and Notshe aren’t concerns, they just took knocks to the knees.
“Cobus Wiese took a knock to the head, so considering the neck injury he had it was just precautionary stuff [taking him off].”