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Cape Town - With the start of Super Rugby 2016 a little more than a month away, Stormers fans are still not sure who their first-choice flyhalf will be.
Demetri Catrakilis is obviously no longer a Stormers player, and that is probably not the worst thing in the world given the expansive and entertaining game that new coach Robbie Fleck is looking to employ.
Still, Catrakilis' consistent accuracy with the boot - from hand and at goal - made him a favourite of previous coach Allister Coetzee and that reliability is something that Fleck will want in whoever he picks to start the season.
There are three players vying for the position - Robert du Preez, Kurt Coleman and Jean-Luc du Plessis.
"I’m not going to say who the front-runner is but I certainly will say that the three flyhalves we have in the system will do the job for us," said Fleck.
Du Preez (22) was the Western Province flyhalf throughout last year's Currie Cup campaign. He was immense in the semi-final win over the Blue Bulls in Pretoria, but then struggled against the Golden Lions in the final.
"He struggled in the final, but for a young kid he stepped up and delivered," Fleck said of Du Preez's season.
Coleman, meanwhile, was the cover for Catrakilis in Super Rugby 2015. While he showed glimpses of the attacking spark that Coetzee saw in him, Coleman struggled for form towards the end of the campaign, particularly with his kicking.
"He had a tough season last year but we all do know that Kurt has got certain qualities that can ignite the type of game we want to play," said Fleck.
Du Plessis (21) appears to the least likely of the three to start against the Bulls at this stage, but Fleck says he has no fear when it comes to backing inexperienced players at Super Rugby level.
"I coached Jean-Luc du Plessis with the U-21s … a seriously talented player that is going to be pushing through the ranks," he said.
"I’ve got no fear about choosing young players.
"All three flyhalves are pushing for that position. I know that the flyhalf has always been a contentious issue at Western Province and the Stormers, but these are the kids that we’ve got and we’re going to back them."
The Stormers play their opening match of the tournament against the Bulls at Newlands on February 27.
