Publications
Partners
Cape Town - The Stormers may be preparing for the possibility of life without Cheslin Kolbe and Juan de Jongh, but there is also good news as a number of players are returning from injury.
Coach Robbie Fleck, when discussing his options at fullback should Kolbe leave for Neil Powell's Springbok Sevens squad in July, revealed that Jaco Taute has returned to training and will be available for selection "next week".
Taute has missed the entire Super Rugby season so far with an ankle injury and he also provides an extra option for Fleck in midfield.
Then there is also the return of flyhalf Robert du Preez, who is looking to be available for the May 28 clash against the Cheetahs in Cape Town.
Du Preez has been out since he picked up a knee injury in March and he was originally expected to be back after the June international window, but the news from Fleck on Monday was that his first-choice flyhalf at the start of the season was recovering ahead of schedule.
With Jean-Luc du Plessis having taken his chances at flyhalf in the absence of Du Preez and Kurt Coleman, Fleck will have a tough selection poser when Du Preez is fully fit, though he did confirm that the 21-year-old also provided an option at fullback.
Eben Etzebeth is expected to be available for the Bulls clash in Pretoria next weekend after missing out on this weekend's trip to Japan, while tighthead prop Wilco Louw is also looking to be available for the Cheetahs.
"It's looking positive in terms of the returning injured players," Fleck said.
