No crisis despite Stormers injuries
Du Preez suffered grade two damage to his medial collateral ligament (mcl) as well as partial posterior cruciate ligament (pcl) damage which ruled him out of action until after the June Test matches. Coleman was slowly finding his feet again and regaining his confidence as the new starting flyhalf but a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a training session has prematurely ended his season.
Young flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis was drafted into the setup with du Preez' injury and Fleck holds the 21-year-old in high regard.
"It is not a crisis because for me, I am excited about the opportunities presented to the younger players as well as giving established players a go in different positions. They will bring something different to the table, that's the way I am looking at it.
"I rate Jean-Luc highly and it was a matter of time before he got a start. He is a complete footballer and that is what I am looking at. He has a good rugby brain, likes to organise things and take charge – which is what you want in a flyhalf.
"He doesn't get flustered and plays the situation he sees in front of him.
"Injuries happen and they create opportunities for other people. The injuries to Dillyn [Leyds] and Kurt [Coleman] is massive as they were considered as flyhalf cover. We need to make clever plans now.
"Part of the long term plans is to invest in our young players and I have a responsibility to look after these youngsters. This is an opportunity for a youngster to stake a claim and there are enough players within the system we can call upon," Fleck said.
Brandon Thomson, Ernst Stapelberg and Chris Smit are just some of the names mentioned by Fleck who he will draft into the Stormers setup.
"Brandon Thomson is in the system but we never brought him in this week because he hasn't trained with us for the last month. Having said that, he will be joining us soon.
"Ernst Stapelberg has been incredibly good for Maties in the Varsity Cup, he has a serious boot and is a tough character. My first port of call will be to bring Brandon [Thomson] back, and then once the Varsity Cup is done, [Ernst] Stapelberg and Maties centre Chris Smit are further options who can be called upon," he added.
By Tauriq Ebrahim
@Tauriq365
@rugby365com
