Stormers in search of an openside flank

The Stormers are in a desperate search for a proven openside flank after injury felled their key off-season signing.

One of the Stormers new recruits‚ flank Steph de Wit‚ is set to miss the entire Super Rugby competition after breaking an ankle in training this week. It was a huge blow to the team after De Wit was recruited from the Lions to shore up their problematic openside flank position.

Siya Kolisi‚ Sikhumbuzo Notshe and Nizaam Carr have all been used in the position but none are specialist No 6s. Carr started at openside for the Boks in the last two Tests of the 2016 season against Italy and Wales‚ but admitted that his favoured position is No 8.

The Stormers were set to reveal the names of some players who had extended their contracts‚ and possibly the signing of another openside on Thursday‚ but the announcement was delayed.

• Kolbe to leave the Stormers after Super Rugby seasonFrench club Toulouse announced on Wednesday they have signed Stormers fullback Cheslin Kolbe.  

No reason was given. De Wit was one of five new recruits signed by the Stormers in the off-season‚ which included centre Dan Kriel‚ hooker Ramone Samuels‚ fullback SP Marais and looseforward Johan du Toit.

Coach Robbie Fleck named a 50-man training squad which was without De Wit‚ wing Leolin Zas (leg) and hooker Scarra Ntubeni (Achilles)‚ who are all still on the long-term injury list.

Fleck said that with so many young players in the group vying to make an impression and trying to put themselves in the reckoning for the 2017 Super Rugby campaign‚ there is healthy competition at the High Performance Centre.

“We have got some incredibly talented young players who are hungry to make an impression‚ which pushes the senior players as well.

• Stormers look to close skills gapKnowing that this year's Super rugby schedule pits the Stormers against strong New Zealand opposition, coach Robbie Fleck will be placing emphasis on skills development and better fitness for his team. 

“After a great camp in Hermanus‚ we want to build some positive momentum as we look ahead to our pre-season games against the Toyota Cheetahs in Harare‚ SWD in George and Lions at Newlands.”

Wing Dillyn Leyds and Bok tighthead Frans Malherbe are back after long-term injuries last season.

Flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis‚ who suffered knee ligament damage in the final pool match of the 2016 Super Rugby campaign‚ is also back to full fitness.

• Stormers focus on skills and fitness ahead of Super Rugby tussles against New Zealand oppositionKnowing that this year’s Super Rugby schedule pits them against strong New Zealand opposition‚ Stormers coach Robbie Fleck is placing an emphasis on skills development and better fitness. 

Stormers wider training group:

Juarno Augustus‚ Nizaam Carr‚ Jaco Coetzee‚ Kurt Coleman‚ Damian de Allende‚ Juan de Jongh‚ Jan de Klerk‚ Pieter-Steph du Toit‚ Dan du Plessis‚ Jean-Luc du Plessis‚ Rob du Preez‚ Dewaldt Duvenage‚ Rynhardt Elstadt‚ Eben Etzebeth‚ Martin Ferreira‚ Huw Jones‚ Oli Kebble‚ Eduan Keyter‚ Cheslin Kolbe‚ Siya Kolisi‚ Dan Kriel‚ Dillyn Leyds‚ Wilco Louw‚ Frans Malherbe‚ Godlen Masimla‚ SP Marais‚ Bongi Mbonambi‚ Khanyo Ngcukana‚ Sikhumbuzo Notshe‚ Caylib Oosthuizen‚ Justin Phillips‚ Ramone Samuels‚ JD Schickerling‚ Seabelo Senatla‚ Chad Solomon‚ Brandon Thomson‚ Kobus van Dyk‚ JC Janse van Rensburg‚ Jurie van Vuuren‚ Frans van Wyk‚ Chris Van Zyl‚ Ali Vermaak‚ Jano Vermaak‚ EW Viljoen‚ Cobus Wiese‚ Damian Willemse‚ Eduard Zandberg.

- TMG Digital