Stormers will fight for Kitshoff
The Stormers are doing everything they can to retain the services of SA Under-20 prop Steven Kitshoff for the big clash with the Bulls this weekend.
The powerful young loosehead has been highly impressive for the Cape franchise and has started every game so far this season, but he has also been selected for Dawie Theron's Baby Bok squad for the IRB Junior World Championships to be held in Cape Town next month.
This will make Kitshoff and the rest of the Super Rugby players in the squad unavailable for the final round of Super Rugby fixtures before the June Test window this weekend.
In terms of SARU's latest regulations, the Baby Boks have first priority, but the Stormers are keen to broker a way for him to play against the Bulls.
"The CEO of the Stormers is currently still in discussions with SARU on the matter. So we'll wait and see what the outcome will be," Stormers coach Allister Coetzee said on Monday.
Coetzee said he was taken by surprise a few days ago when the rules were changed to allow national teams like the Sevens and junior outfits to have first call on players.
Prior to this change, Coetzee said he and the Baby Boks' manager, Dawie Theron, had discussed ways of easing Kitshoff's workload in a way that would benefit both teams.
In the event of Kitshoff being declared off limits for the Stormers, former Springbok Deon Carstens is his likely replacement.
"A player like Deon Carstens has been part of our larger squad and has been on tour with us. We also have Wicus Blaauw who has played there before," Coetzee said.
Meanwhile, flank Siya Kolisi, who was withdrawn shortly before their match against the Sharks last week, is almost certain to return to action against the Bulls.
"Siya's shoulder has improved a great deal and I'm very positive about him playing this weekend," Coetzee said.
"The latest test showed that he has recovered a lot. The scar tissue has settled nicely and so has the inflammation. I'm 99 percent sure he'll be ready for this weekend," he added.
Joe Pietersen was also likely to make the trip to Pretoria. The fullback was laid low by injury last week, and his absence caused the Stormers to reshuffle their outside backs.
Coetzee said with Pietersen at fullback, Aplon would return to the wing in an effort to bolster the Stormers' strike force out wide.
"It was interesting to note that both Aplon's tries came when he had moved in to a wing position," Coetzee said.
"Both instances were pieces of individual brilliance. We'll look at Joe when he comes back from the Bok camp in Durban and by Tuesday we'll have a clearer picture," added the Stormers boss.
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