Cape Town - It is still unclear as to whether Stormers captain Juan de Jongh and star fullback Cheslin Kolbe will play for the Springbok Sevens side at the Rio Olympics.
While Stormers coach Robbie Fleck said on Monday in Bellville that he has not had communication from SA Rugby about the selection of the Blitzbok squad for the Rio Olympics, he is preparing for the worst-case scenario - that both players miss the Super Rugby playoffs.
While Kolbe has had a long association with the Sevens Boks, De Jongh only joined up with the squad for the current World Series season last November, and played in the opening four tournaments in Dubai, Cape Town, Sydney and Wellington with a view of proving himself to make the Olympic squad.
But with the Rio Games starting in August, the Blitzboks are likely to have a training camp sometime in July, which is when the Stormers resume their Super Rugby campaign after the June Test break.
It is understood that the Bok Sevens side has priority when it comes to national selection this year, which is why Bryan Habana still has a chance of making the Blitzbok squad, although he is injured at the moment.
But, like Damian de Allende and Warren Whiteley decided last week, De Jongh - and Kolbe for that matter - could still choose to focus on making the Springbok 15-man team for Allister Coetzee’s first series in charge against Ireland in June, as well as the Rugby Championship, which starts on August 20 when the Boks take on Argentina in Nelspruit.
The sevens tournament in Rio takes place from August 6-11.
De Jongh and Kolbe are missing the last two World Series legs in Paris and London over the next two weeks.
Asked if De Jongh was still likely to make the Olympic squad, Fleck said: “Your guess is as good as mine. As I sat here next to Chessie, we know that they are in the mix, but I can’t say when and if that is going to happen. Like Cheslin said now, he’s focus is here and my focus is here, and if they get called up, they get called up - we’ll deal with it like any other situation.
“We will take it head-on, it is what it is. There hasn’t been any communication (on their selection). There has been communication in terms of when they do go (if they are selected), and that’s not for me to disclose here. But I am in the loop - if someone does get called up to that squad, I do know when they exit from your squad.”
Kolbe himself was also present in Bellville on Monday, and said he wasn’t thinking about the sevens scene at the moment. “My main focus is with the Stormers right now. I will take everything as it comes with regards to the Springbok Sevens squad. But my focus is with the Stormers and that is where I am enjoying my rugby,” was all the dynamic fullback was willing to say on the matter.
But Kolbe and De Jongh are flying with the Stormers to Singapore on Tuesday to take on the Sunwolves on Saturday (1.55pm kickoff).
It will also be a chance for Fleck to give some game time to Huw Jones at fullback to prepare for Kolbe’s possible absence later in the competition. Jones ran in that position during training on Monday, with Kolbe at left wing due to Leolin Zas’ suspension.
Fleck said that Jones will still play off the bench, but that he was “one of the most gifted footballers in our side - he’s a natural, he’s a great passer and runs great lines”, which makes the coach think that the Scottish-born utility back could be a success at No 15.