Investec Stormers squad to tour Australia and NZ

A feature of the squad is only two scrumhalves, two hookers and three props have been included in the touring party. Smal was asked what would happen if he has an injury in the captain’s training run the Friday before a game.

He said they would have to make a plan. “We’ll manage it properly. We’ll have to make it work with what’s left there. I think it is a calculated risk… I have thought about it.

“In the past we always took 28 players with, but it is difficult in a certain way to manage them. It is nice to have the comfort of having everybody there, but they are not normally players that get injured that much.

“If you look at Neil (de Kock) and Bolla (Conradie) – how long they’ve played together and how little injuries they got – I think it is a calculated risk. But if we pick up one or two injuries we will have to make a plan.”

The coach added that he opted for four locks because he wanted to have the injured Selborne Boome, who would only be ready for consideration for the second tour game, there.

The coach also said that he would want to create some breathing space for some of the physical players in the squad, such as captain, Corne Krige.

“I don’t want to commit to a certain match, but I’d like to create some rest time for him, even if he is on the bench. We will do proper planning when we get there and see what he looks like.

“He hasn’t practiced with us today. Three guys didn’t practice with us – De Wet Barry, Corne and Quinton Davids – because they are the physical guys. They took a lot of physical knocks over the last five, six weeks and that is why I allowed them to miss training this week. Adri Badenhorst also had a bit of the flu, so he didn’t train either.”

The Rossouw brothers, Chris and Pieter, should be ready for the first game of the tour, against the Reds in Brisbane. Fullback Werner Greeff might be ready, although he has only a small chance, said Smal. Selborne Boome would definitely only be considered for the second match.

The Investec Stormers squad is as follows:

Adri Badenhorst

Bolla Conradie

Breyton Paulse

Chris Rossouw

Corne Krige

Daan Human

David Britz

De Wet Barry

Eddie Andrews

Gaffie Du Toit

Gavin Hume

Gus Theron

Hendrik Gerber

Marius Joubert

Neil De Kock

Pat Barnard

Pierre Uys

Pieter Dixon

Pieter Rossouw

Quinton Davids

Rob Linde

Schalk Burger

Selborne Boome

Tonderai Chavhanga

Werner Greeff

Willem Stoltz