Selection headaches for Stormers

The Stormers are sweating over the fitness of flyhalf Peter Grant ahead of Saturday’s Super Rugby encounter against the Brumbies at Newlands.

The Springbok pivot suffered an ankle injury during training last week and will need to pass a fitness test to form part of the matchday squad to face the log leaders.

“Peter Grant last week went over his ankle a bit and he’s still stying off the ankle at this point in time. It recovered over the weekend but we can only say how well he’s recovered after we’ve sent him through some tests tomorrow,” Stormers coach Allister Coetzee said on Monday.

Coetzee said he has a few selection headaches this week, with the return to fitness of forward Michael Rhodes (hamstring), centre Juan de Jongh (hamstring) and fullback Jaco Taute (groin), but he welcomed the situation.

“Mike Rhodes, Juan de Jongh and Jaco Taute are all training well. That’s a good thing for us, as they will all be available for selection against the Brumbies,” he said.

Coetzee added that he is yet to decide who will replace Bryan Habana, who set to be sidelined for 10 weeks after he partially torn his Medial Collateral Ligament in his left knee in the win over the Chiefs, and finalise the composition of his backline.

However, he said the squad have adequate depth out wide. Explaining his options, Coetzee said: “The decision I’d have to make his whether I start with Gerhard [van der Heever] or whether I move Joe [Pietersen] to 14 and play Jaco Taute at 15.”

Coetzee will announce the Stormers side at lunch-time on Wednesday.