Injury robs Stormers of two Boks

The Stormers will head into their opening Super Rugby pre-season game, against SWD Eagles in George on Saturday, without the services of two Springbok loose forwards.

Nizaam Carr and Siya Kolisi will not be available for the trip to Outeniqua Park.

Carr was in hospital last week with a severe viral infection, but has since been discharged and is recovering well at home. He should be available for selection in two weeks' time.

Kolisi is resting a hamstring niggle he sustained last week. he is in the final phase of treatment and should train fully next week.

However, a number of the Stormers' long-term injured players are all making good progress ahead of the 2015 Super Rugby tournament.

The likes of locks Jean Kleyn and Ruan Botha and prop Frans Malherbe are all still making good progress from their long-term injuries, with Kleyn having joined full team training on Monday.

Wing Kobus van Wyk (back) is recovering well after missing training late last week, but will not be risked this weekend.

Prop Frans Malherbe (ankle) and lock Ruan Botha (ankle) all continue to respond well to treatment from their long-term injuries.

Malherbe and Botha should join full team training in about two weeks' time.

The Stormers will open their 2015 Super Rugby campaign against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday, February 14.

Their first home game is against the Blues, at Newlands, on Saturday, February 21.

Before then, however, the 2011 and 2012 SA Conference winners will participate in three pre-season friendlies.

It starts this weekend against SWD (in George, kick-off 16.30), the Cheetahs (January 30, in Cape Town, kick-off 19.00) and the Boland Cavaliers (February 7, Paarl, kick-off TBC).