Good news for WP

Ex Ssupersport

The DHL Western Province players enjoyed their Heritage Day at home on Monday, but coach Allister Coetzee is expecting to be in what for him has become an unfamiliar position when the squad gathers on Tuesday to begin preparations for Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup clash with the MTN Golden Lions.

The trend this year has been for the start of the week to be when a list of injured players and other subtractions, such as suspensions, from the squad are read out to the media. Most weeks there have been injuries, but last week in addition to the season ending jaw injury to Kurt Coleman, there was also the uncertainty over the two players who had been red-carded against the Sharks, Jebb Sinclair and Tyrone Holmes.

Sinclair ended up escaping further sanction, but Holmes was suspended for one match. Holmes’s suspension is over now so he comes back into the mix this week, as does Nick Koster, the No 8 who has been out for most of the year with a knee injury that has proved hard to get rid of. Koster has been back at the High Performance Centre in recent weeks, but it will be Tuesday that he resumes full training with his teammates.

Further good news for Province fans is that blindside flanker Rynhardt Elstadt could well be available this week. The big No 7 has been out for a couple of weeks with an injured rib, and initially the prognosis was that he would only be back in the week of the Bulls match -- meaning after Saturday’s game against the champions.

However Coetzee has confirmed that Elstadt has made a quicker recovery than was anticipated and he could well be considered for the Lions game, pending an assessment that will be conducted on Tuesday.

The sudden return of loose-forwards to the selection mix comes at a good time for WP, one of three teams vying for top spot on the final Currie Cup league standings with three games to go. The remaining three games aren’t easy ones -- Lions at home, Bulls away and Cheetahs at home -- so Coetzee knows he will require depth. The back row has been the area most impacted by injuries this year.

Meanwhile Coetzee has told the Cape media that the absence of Elton Jantjies, Jaco Taute and CJ van der Linde from the Lions team will not make a difference to the inform log-leaders when they come to Cape Town.

“I just want to warn everyone that Butch James is in that team, and they have played without guys like Jaco Taute and CJ van der Linde for most of the competition,” he said.

Indeed, Coetzee is right to warn of James’s effectiveness. When he came on late in the game against the Sharks this past weekend the veteran showed a lot of commitment and energy and was responsible for a crucial tackle that led to a turn-over ball that clinched his team the game in the desperate final minutes.

Particulary glad to hear Koster is on the mend and trust he will suffer no effects re the injury.

WP did well enough without the injured playes and ws further helped by the absence of backline players on Springbok duty.   They can be confident about this coming game - but the absence of Jantjies will be a negative for them.   Jantjies is not up to standard at all and they now have to face a better Lions backline combination.

However, I think they are likely to play Elstadt at lock - keep Fourie at no 6 and Holmes at 7 - with Koster on the bench.   Will actually be surprised if it turns out to be otherwise.

@mike I dissagree regarding Jantjies, he ran the show against the Sharks. I would even put my head on the chopping block by saying he is SA's number 2 flyhalf behind probably an on form Goosen.

Was not so long ago when Jantjies was subbed early because he buggered up the game completely.    I think the problem with him is he cannot perform when under pressure and the Sharks loosies never applied any pressure in that case.   The Sharks lost that game through their own atrociously bad play - they should have won it.   Towards the end - when the Sharks were attacking Jantjies was also subbed.    He has problems in defence and in their game against WP that component was also exploited.   

The best way for the opposition is when Jantjies is around is to attack  through the channell as WP did in their game against the Lions.   That is bound to happen if he plays on international level - so it worries me sick.   I have suggested that Meyer should bring him i as a sub - if we are far enough ahead -  to see whether he can handle the situation - but unfortunately I have my doubts whether he can.

Well Mike maybe we will see how Jantjes goes against oz.

I am pleased to see Pat Howrd as a reserve. This guy is 100 kgs plus and can play center and wing. Moreover he is rated by no other than Saffex. Hope we see him in action.

Nice to hear about Howard - has been watching him in Under 21 geames and he really is special.   Big guy - very strong and speedy.   In fact I personally rate him higher than Taute - and that says a lot. 

Glad to see Elstadt back. He's a good tighthead lock -- puts a lot of emphasis on the "donkey work" in the tight, operates well in the line-out, and carries well (I noticed he's improving his carrying technique by lowering his center of gravity and using an arm to "unlock" the first tackler).

Also like the look of Howard among the reserves. He uses his weight very well, has bags of pace, and understands the concept of throwing opponents off balance with his footwork.

Cruz

What do you think of JP Du Plessis as a center?????

Mike

I rate JP du Plessis VERY highly. I spent most of the SuperXV complaining about the way he was overlooked  by Coetzee & co (along with Quinn Roux's omission as well). If I had to describe JP in one word, that'd be "electric". He has a great understanding of backline play -- knows when to go for the man and when to go for the gap. His footwork is excellent, as are the lines he runs (worked quite effectively with Marcel Brache on his inside).

I'm glad to see WP's backline improving. From a purely technical standpoint, it seems much more complete now. What WP need now (Catrakilis is set to play for the Kings) is a quality flyhalf with guile and tactical awareness. Grant IMO is not what we need. His goal kicking is superb, but his attacking game is somewhat predictable... like it's "manufactured", it just doesn't flow naturally. A professional fly-half today must be able to make, change and abort decisions in a split second. Tactical awareness and technical resources go hand in hand.

On that note, I can't wait to see Tim Swiel more involved in the WP structure.

Cruz

Just one question - please,   You are better informed and know more about SA Rugby than even most locals.   How do you manage to do that?

Mike

As I said in my first post, I'm a Rugby nut. I watch every single game (except for ITM games) out there. Top 14, Pro D2, Pro 12, Premiership, Super 10 (Italy), Heineken Cup, Vodacom Cup, Currie Cup, and SuperXV, of course... I strive to watch the games live but sometimes work & Uni force me to record them. I have all the RWC games saved in my computer (from 1999 onwards). This year I saved all SuperXV games as well.  I tend to rewatch them over and over to improve my understanding of tactics, individual techniques, defensive & offensive patterns, etc (Thank God my GF loves Rugby... otherwise... I'd have had no option but to... leave her! Hehe) ;)

My Father is South African, so SA is like a second home to me. We always fly to Clifton in summer to relax a bit, although I spend most of my vacations in WP, watching the differents team training! Hehe

Recently I attended a Forum with Dave Rennie and Wayne Smith, which was an eye opener in so many aspects. They were really gentle and answered all of our questions with extreme attention to detail. In a nutshell, I just love this sport.

Cruz

What you wrote remind me very much of Chad le Clos - the youngster from Durban that beat Phelps in the Olympic in the 200 meter butterfly.   He said he has all the recordings of Michael Phelps swims in the Olympics - some of them in 8 different languages - and he studies them constantly.

Le Clos at 20 years of age made a great name for himself in winning a gold and silver medals at the Olympics.   If he can do it with an attitude similar to yours - I am convinced that you would also make it to the highest levels in rugby.   Keep it up and you will succeed.