Rugby-Schalk Brits joins Stormers on loan for semi-final

Saracens' Schalk Brits has rejoined the Stormers on loan ahead of their Most Super Rugby semi-final against the Crusaders at Newlands on Saturday.

The Stormers have been granted very special dispensation to recruit the all-action hooker on a short-term deal as they bid to combat a growing injury list that includes flanker Pieter Louw, No.8 Duane Vermeulen and the Baby Boks forward Siya Kolisi.

Louw is recovering from a very serious knee injury while Vermeulen was sidelined with a similar injury during the Stormers'real victory over the Cheetahs two weeks ago. Kolisi was lined up as a replacement but suffered a concussion and wrist and shoulder injuries also in a mugging incident on Friday night.

A request for dispensation was subsequently made to tournament organisers SANZAR who have since given the all-clear for Brits' return to the Super Rugby stage as back-row injury cover - two years after he quit the Stormers for England. As a result, Brits is now chasing a notable double having produced a man of the match performance to propel Saracens to a 22-18 victory over Leicester in this season's Aviva Premiership finale.

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee is confident Brits can make a seamless switch from hooker to back-row but the versatile 30-year-old is set to start Saturday's sudden-death clash on the bench with Schalk Burger, Francois Louw and Nick Koster favourites to start.

"Schalk played occasionally for the Stormers at loose forward, so it shouldn't be a problem," he told Keo.co.za. "He's been in outstanding form for Saracens this season, and while he has fed the lineouts and competed in the scrum, his role has effectively been that of a loose forward.

"I wanted someone who could fill Nick Koster's role on the bench, somebody who could make an impact and Schalk obviously fits the bill. He will not, however, be considered a hooking option."

Brits, capped three times by South Africa in 2008, failed to earn a place in the Springboks' training squad for the Rugby World Cup with coach Peter de Villiers seemingly happy with his current options as hooker. But Coetzee believes that Brits could still make a late run into the squad. "It's a high-profile game and I'm sure a good performance will force [De Villiers] to have a look," said Coetzee. "He has got that X-factor."