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Cape Town - Stormers coach Allister Coetzee is in two minds about whether or not to include fit-again lock Rynhardt Elstadt for their clash against the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
According to Die Burger, Coetzee might decide to give Elstadt more time for Western Province in the Vodacom Cup to improve his match fitness.
Elstadt played for WP in their Vodacom Cup win over the Sharks XV in Durban over the weekend after an eight-month-long injury.
"It was good to see the intensity Rynhardt played with for WP," said Coetzee.
Eben Etzebeth was exceptional as Andries Bekker's lock-partner in Elstadt's absence and the coach admits it's a "nice" problem to have with all his locks fit again.
"What is the best for Rynhardt to get him sharp for the tour which lies ahead: Another 60 or 80 minutes in the Vodacom Cup, or 20 to 40 minutes in Super Rugby?"
Coetzee may well opt for the 60 to 80 minutes of Vodacom Cup rugby for WP against the EP Kings in Crawford this weekend.
Another lock ready to return after a long injury lay-off is Hilton Lobberts. SAPA reports that Lobberts will have a run for the Vodacom Cup side this week before moving up to the Stormers' training group.
Meanwhile, the Stormers won't be able to call on the services of prop Deon Carstens for the next two weeks. He played 39 minutes for WP over the weekend before breaking his nose.
"He will only be operated on Thursday or Friday, which means he won't be available for the next two weekends," said Coetzee.
But with the way the Stormers have dominated in the scrums recently, Carstens's absence is hardly a crisis.
According to Die Burger, Coetzee might decide to give Elstadt more time for Western Province in the Vodacom Cup to improve his match fitness.
Elstadt played for WP in their Vodacom Cup win over the Sharks XV in Durban over the weekend after an eight-month-long injury.
"It was good to see the intensity Rynhardt played with for WP," said Coetzee.
Eben Etzebeth was exceptional as Andries Bekker's lock-partner in Elstadt's absence and the coach admits it's a "nice" problem to have with all his locks fit again.
"What is the best for Rynhardt to get him sharp for the tour which lies ahead: Another 60 or 80 minutes in the Vodacom Cup, or 20 to 40 minutes in Super Rugby?"
Coetzee may well opt for the 60 to 80 minutes of Vodacom Cup rugby for WP against the EP Kings in Crawford this weekend.
Another lock ready to return after a long injury lay-off is Hilton Lobberts. SAPA reports that Lobberts will have a run for the Vodacom Cup side this week before moving up to the Stormers' training group.
Meanwhile, the Stormers won't be able to call on the services of prop Deon Carstens for the next two weeks. He played 39 minutes for WP over the weekend before breaking his nose.
"He will only be operated on Thursday or Friday, which means he won't be available for the next two weekends," said Coetzee.
But with the way the Stormers have dominated in the scrums recently, Carstens's absence is hardly a crisis.
