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Jones to work with halfback options

Cape Town - One area where the Stormers have concern heading into the new Super Rugby season is at flyhalf.

The ever-reliable Demetri Catrakilis is no longer, and unless the franchise ventures into the transfer market between now and the start of the season, then Kurt Coleman, 25, and Robert du Preez, 22, look set to battle it out for the No 10 jersey.

There had been reports that the Stormers were in the market for another flyhalf, with Marnitz Boshoff having been linked with a move from the Lions, but new coach Eddie Jones said on Thursday that he was "only working with what he had in front of him".

"They're obviously young guys," Jones said of his halfback options. 

"We're just going to have to work with them.

"You saw someone like Dan Carter... he probably played his best rugby, his most consistent Test rugby, from 28 to 33 when he's been through it all and learnt all the mistakes.

"We're looking at 20-, 21-, 22-year-old guys. They're going to go through some pain and we have to accept that and allow them to go through that pain, and then they'll be very good players.

"There's no shortcut to developing good 9s and 10s."

Jones then hinted that there wasn't a lot out there in terms of available talent at flyhalf, but the importance of the position is vital to him.

"If you look at rugby now, the people who touch the ball most are the 9s and 10s so you have to have 9s and 10s who can make good decisions," he said.

The Stormers do have scrumhalf experience in the form of Jano Vermaak, 30, and Nic Groom and Louis Schreuder (both 25), but Godlin Masimla is just 22. 

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