Stormers coach Robbie Fleck said while it’s a big setback to lose Du Preez, he will most likely return after the June Test window for internationals and added that fortunately no surgery would be required but only intense rehabilitation.
While the more experienced Kurt Coleman is likely to start in the flyhalf position this weekend at Newlands against the Sharks, Fleck has also mentioned the names of Brandon Thomson and Jean-Luc du Plessis as options on his bench, his two U21 pivots when he coached Western Province to the national title last season.
Du Plessis is the son of former Bok wing Carel du Plessis who incidentally played at No 10 for Western Province during the 1978 Craven Week in Middelburg, Transvaal.
*The Lions in the meantime will look for a new centre combination after Harold Vorster was send home from New Zealand with a knee injury, while his experienced midfield partner and former Lions captain Lionel Mapoe also returned home to be with his partner ahead of the birth of their first-born.
It was confirmed by the Lions on Tuesday that Vorster damaged his left anterior cruciate ligaments and he saw a surgeon on Tuesday to confirm possible surgery, but at this stage he has been ruled out for more than six months with his likely returning only happening around October 1.
