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Door open for Senatla return

Cape Town - Highly rated wing Seabelo Senatla is back in Super Rugby contention for the Stormers.

Coach Allister Coetzee said on Monday that he could not rule out the possibility of Senatla featuring against the Rebels at Newlands on Saturday, though there was a concern over the speedster's physical condition.

The 22-year-old has been a part of the Blitzbokke's Sevens World Series endeavours, which ended in disappointment in London this past weekend.

The end of the World Series has opened the door for Senatla, contracted to both WP and SA Rugby, to return to the 15-man game as the Super Rugby season reaches its critical stages. 

But Coetzee says that there is a lot to consider before making any final calls, and he would look at the player as soon as he saw him in Cape Town on Tuesday.

"The communication we've had with the (Sevens) medical team is that he's picked up bit of a hematoma on the thigh muscle," Coetzee said.

"The big thing is, I would have loved to have roped him in, but we don't know where Seabelo is at mentally number one, and his physical state.

"I don't think his problem is really game time, it's a medical call. He's just come back from a Sevens series and one has to make sure that he is given a bit of off time just to re-energise."

Coetzee hinted that a week's break would probably be what is best for Senatla, but then said that he could not rule out the possibility of him being rushed into the setup for this weekend. 

"I know his ability, we all know that, and he is a game breaker. He's got the X-factor. But in all fairness to the playing staff and where we are as a team the right thing is for him to first join up with us and see where he is at."

The Stormers coach added that the franchise was investigating with SANZAR the illegibility of the player given that he hasn't featured all season, but there had been assurances from SARU that he would be available. 

Jaco Taute, meanwhile, will continue his recovery with another match in the Vodacom Cup when Western Province host the Blue Bulls on Saturday, while Michael Rhodes's recovery has been dealt a blow as he has been knocked with a bout of flu.  

Senatla was on Monday nominated for the Sevens World Series player of the year award and finished as the leading try scorer in the competition this season.

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