Stormers coach Robbie Fleck says superstar lock Eben Etzebeth will be back early during the Super Rugby season.
The Springbok No.4 took part in a conditioning session with 11 other Boks as Fleck put the rest of his squad through their paces on Saturday.
In sweltering heat, Robbie Fleck’s 27-man squad took on a combined club side (made up of non-university players) as well as hosts False Bay RFC at the Phillip Herbstein grounds in Constantia in each half of the first of three Super Rugby warm-up games.
The Stormers group played four chukkas in total – two against each side – and scored 14 tries in total to beat their opposition 40-15 and 40-10 respectively.
Fleck says he will give his stars a go next week when they take on the Bulls on Sunday at the Cape Town Stadium for the Marvel Superheroes doubleheader.
He says: “We’ve been working really hard on our conditioning, and the guys who didn’t get a lot of playing time towards the end of last season will be brought in come next week.
“Next week we’ll be closer to full strength. It’s going to be fun and games. Tactically you don’t want to show too much, but it will be a good hit-out before our first game.”
“[Flyhalf] Jean-Luc du Plessis will hopefully be back for the Boland game and Eben Etzebeth will hopefully be back for the Lions game [on February 23].”
Stormers playing squad
Juarno Augustus, Craig Barry, Kwenzo Blose, Jaco Coetzee, Dan du Plessis, JJ Engelbrecht, Neethling Fouché, Herschel Jantjies, Daniel Jooste, Dan Kriel, Michael Kumbirai, Nico Leonard, Dillyn Leyds, SP Marais, Salmaan Moerat, Scarra Ntubeni, Justin Phillips, Marno Redelinghuys,
Seabelo Senatla, Josh Stander, Edwill van der Merwe, Kobus van Dyk, Ernst van Rhyn, Chris van Zyl, Ali Vermaak, Cobus Wiese, Nama Xaba.
Stormers Conditioning Group
Damian de Allende, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Corné Fourie, Steven Kitshoff, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Ruhan Nel, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Sergeal Petersen, JD Schickerling, Chad Solomon, Jano Vermaak, Damian Willemse.