Investec Stormers sweating on Schalk

The fiery flanker missed last Saturday’s defeat to the Crusaders at Newlands due to a calf injury sustained against the Reds the previous week.

Stormers coach Gert Smal gave the Springbok until last Friday to prove his fitness for the game against the Crusaders. The player, however, had to withdraw after not recovering sufficiently.

This week he hasn’t trained at all and by Tuesday he had a 50/50 chance of playing, although Smal was hopeful that Burger would recover in time.

In Burger’s absence, lock Gerrie Britz was moved to the flank, with Pietie Ferreira on the other side because of the injuries to Joe van Niekerk and Adri Badenhorst. Luke Watson played at No 8.

Van Niekerk trained with gusto this week and it seems he will be back at No 8 after his knee injury. Other players back from injury are lock Quinton Davids and hooker Hanyani Shimange.

The lock had an ankle injury and Shimange’s ribs bothered him.

The team will be announced on Wednesday.