Etzebeth back in training; Rugby 365

Springbok Eben Etzebeth has been spotted in full training for the Western Province side after sitting out the entire Super Rugby season. There is additional good news for the Province side with Frans Malherbe, Gerbrandt Grobler, Demetri Catrakilis and Kobus van Wyk all back in full training. Malherbe (concussion) and Van Wyk (calf muscle) missed the business-end of the Stormers’ recently-completed Super Rugby campaign but both trained flat out at  WP’s well-attended open session at the Langa Sports Grounds on Tuesday. Etzebeth has not played at all in 2014 after suffering a foot injury at the end of 2013 and then a toe injury before he completed his rehabilitation from the former, whilst second row colleague Gerbrandt Grobler (shoulder/leg) is also back to full fitness after missing all of 2014 up until now. It remains to be seen, however, if Etzebeth will feature in the Currie Cup for WP – depending on his Springbok commitments. Last but not least, Catrakilis has shaken off a few niggles to return to full training ahead of  Western Province’s first game of the 2014  Currie Cup season on Friday, August 8 – against the EP Kings. Meanwhile,  Western Province coach Allister Coetzee revealed that he would wait until the announcement of the Springbok squad this coming weekend before announcing his captain for the Currie Cup season. “We have identified eight to ten players who we want to develop in a leadership role,” said Coetzee. “We won’t be announcing a captain as yet, only once we know who will be chosen for the Springboks can we make a final decision on that.” Still needing a bit more time to recover, lock Ruan Botha sat out today’s training session with an ankle injury – there will be more clarity after his final scan tomorrow. Centre Juan de Jongh also sat out training with a slight bump to his knee. He is being managed but will be good to go for  WP’s opening game against the EP Kings. Flyhalf Kurt Coleman also has a slight knee niggle and will be touch and go for  WP’s opening game against the Kings. Prop Brok Harris (shoulder) is two/three weeks away from being considered for selection. There are a number of players who should return for WP, but only in their second match against the Bulls, those are hooker Siyabonga Ntubeni (foot), and Rynhardt Elstadt (shoulder). Meanwhile in the centres Jean de Villiers is running flat out and midfield partner Damian de Allende is running in a controlled environment. Both are recovering from knee injuries.

Sounds like he is getting close to being available. From what I remember they were targeting the RC as his return date. The thought of Retallick may have slowed down his recovery
JW (suffering indignity with dignity)

 Lady Estebeth dont break a nail 

 JW
Retallick?  are you serious - Retallick cannot come up to the standard of Lood de Jager - so why should Etzebeth worry about him?  

 retardlick. Bwahahhahahahahaha another pap nz lock. Please JW and 3 IQ you two oaks are becoming progressively unhinged!!!  Great news. Man what a terrible pity all our guys were injured like this. We would very likely have won the title this year. 
Stormers would definitely have had the best pack in the Comp:Kitshoff, Liebenberg, MalherbeBotha and EtzebethDeon Fourie, Vermeulen and Schalk Burger
Superb balanced pack of international quality.
Backline with all the players available would also have been very good. In addition Stormers are now playing a more balanced game.
Always remember too oaks that the Stormers only lost the the crusties in nz due to a RAW.

Beeno: we all respect the abilities of Etzebeth but have some concerns for his mental well-being given that he will have to face the Mighty All Blacks. Can you recommend a therapist for him? I am sure he would appreciate it.

JW (suffering indignity with dignity)

 Lol you two are unbeleivable, you really need to get over this theory NZ Tight Five Forwards are weak because they are not SA. Get your blinkers off seriousley De Jager? Oh Dear anyone well tell you Retilluck was the form player of super rugby. Seriousley its a farce SA havent beaten NZ in Three years, yeah yeah heavily ref assisted i kno . Yet the arrogance especially when it comes to how you laugh at NZ forwards when they have treated SA forwards past three years like Cheerleaders haha you kno its true. Estebeth is overrated, hes a little girl. Have the stormers ever done anything of note? I mean they couldent beat Crusties with 13 men, then same year lost in the semis useless 

 Jw my friend I am afraid there is no therapist in the wolrd capable of preventing Etzebeth from taking the wee abs apart - they will have to take it on that glass chin. 
He and Loodt are set to rule the wee abs for years to come. Meyer must just say a fond and no doubt sad farewell to wee victor. 

Been ol' mate, please prepare yourself for the usual thrashing that will ensue once again this year.

 

You will note that I have changed my avatar picture as a gentle reminder of past performances - it should help, we will have to see

 

Ed the Administrator is still punishing me - he reduced my number of posts & my profile says I live in Cape Town & support the boks

 

JW (suffering indignity with dignity)

 Lol Beeno your deluded, you keep harping on about this, yet we keep kicking yarpie butt . Until this actually happens then well talk, until then We Are The Champions My Friend...

3ku1
And you will keep on kicking but with donkeys like Morne Steyn, Willem Alberts and the light wieght Matfield in the team.   You are lucky - Meyer has not learnt the lesson yet. 
Retallick and Matfield are birds of a feather - the difference is that Matfield takes more line out balls - whilst Retallick is useless.   Both are not of any value in Tight 5 play.  For thee rest both of them are physically-deficient show ponies  

 Rettallick....useless? can't agree with that, maybe useless in the last few games for the Chiefs but will do some serious damage in the RC and Bledisloe cup.
Etzabeth is an animal, glad to hear he's back, he makes the tests far more interesting.

 3 I Q dont get carried away by RAW wins. 
Mike please get some perspective. Although retardlick is not in the class of Loodt or Etzebeth he is a reasonable lock and to bracket him with such a pap lock as victor is going too far!!! 
Name me another lock who has played international rugby who is as pap as victor. I have issues this challenge before but there have no takers.
Yes Mike, Victor and Alberts (for the RC) must go. Morne not so as he can mentor Pollard along.
Mike we may have to delay Bok rule to 2015 as Meyer might not get the message re victor etc. In fact if he takes them to the world cup it may even push things back to 2016.One can only hope Meyer gets his selection right for this RC.