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Cape Town - Springbok loose forward Siya Kolisi says the competition for spots in the Stormers loose trio will be intense next season.
The Stormers have a fair amount of depth at loose forward and Kolisi will fight it out for a spot with players like Deon Fourie, Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger, Rynhardt Elstadt, Nizaam Carr, Michael Rhodes and Rohan Kitshoff.
And it's for that reason that Kolisi doesn't mind playing in any position in the loose trio. He played blindside flank for the Stormers this year but was utilised at openside for the Springboks.
"I'll play where I'm needed. If the Stormers need me at flank, then I'll play flank. If they need me at eighthman, then I'll play there," the 22-year-old told Die Burger's website.
"I have played in all three positions. However, it's not easy to move from six-flank to seven-flank, but I'm working on it.
"The Stormers have a lot of fetchers in the team, so I'll probably have to play at seven, but it's not a problem."
Kolisi added that the competition for spots in the team is what makes them a solid unit.
"It will be a mistake to think that you'll be in the starting team for the next game. You are always challenged by the next player and it's a very good thing for us here.
"You can never be in a comfort zone. We view it as a blessing. We push each other (for a spot in the team) and learn from each other."
The Stormers will play three pre-season games before starting their season-proper against the Lions in Johannesburg on February 22.
Stormers' 2014 pre-season fixtures:
Saturday, February 1:
Bulls v Stormers, Peter Mokaba Stadium (Polokwane) - 17:00
Friday, February 7:
Southern Kings v Stormers, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (Port Elizabeth) - 19:00
Saturday, February 15:
Boland v Stormers, Boland Stadium (Wellington) - kick-off TBC
The Stormers have a fair amount of depth at loose forward and Kolisi will fight it out for a spot with players like Deon Fourie, Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger, Rynhardt Elstadt, Nizaam Carr, Michael Rhodes and Rohan Kitshoff.
And it's for that reason that Kolisi doesn't mind playing in any position in the loose trio. He played blindside flank for the Stormers this year but was utilised at openside for the Springboks.
"I'll play where I'm needed. If the Stormers need me at flank, then I'll play flank. If they need me at eighthman, then I'll play there," the 22-year-old told Die Burger's website.
"I have played in all three positions. However, it's not easy to move from six-flank to seven-flank, but I'm working on it.
"The Stormers have a lot of fetchers in the team, so I'll probably have to play at seven, but it's not a problem."
Kolisi added that the competition for spots in the team is what makes them a solid unit.
"It will be a mistake to think that you'll be in the starting team for the next game. You are always challenged by the next player and it's a very good thing for us here.
"You can never be in a comfort zone. We view it as a blessing. We push each other (for a spot in the team) and learn from each other."
The Stormers will play three pre-season games before starting their season-proper against the Lions in Johannesburg on February 22.
Stormers' 2014 pre-season fixtures:
Saturday, February 1:
Bulls v Stormers, Peter Mokaba Stadium (Polokwane) - 17:00
Friday, February 7:
Southern Kings v Stormers, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (Port Elizabeth) - 19:00
Saturday, February 15:
Boland v Stormers, Boland Stadium (Wellington) - kick-off TBC
