Yes the much maligned Taute starts. Howard on the bench. Wake up Coetzee!!!!!!
They are at the top of the log and are on the rise so it should hardly come as a surprise that the DHL Western Province team for Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup clash with the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus features just one enforced change to the side that beat the Xerox Golden Lions last week.
As anticipated, Jaco Taute makes his first start for WP in the new position of inside centre in place of the injured Michael van der Spuy, who is struggling with a hamstring injury.
“Fortunately there is no tear to Mikey’s hamstring, it is just a strain, but it is bad enough for the doctors to suggest a seven day break to work on it,” said Coetzee.
“Looking at the heavy underfoot conditions we have experienced in training this week because of the foul weather that has proved a good call. He does a lot of kicking, and the strain is in his left hamstring, his kicking leg. It is a soft tissue injury, not a chronic thing, and he will be back soon.
“In the meantime though we have Jaco coming in for his first start in WP colours and he is playing at centre, and we are excited about what he can offer. As backline coach Robbie Fleck said during the week, good communication is one of the things that Jaco brings. We have a good communicator on defence at outside centre in the form of Juan de Jongh, and Demetri Catrakilis and Jaco will work well together on attack.”
Skipper De Jongh said that his partnership with Taute had worked well in training this week.
“Jaco and myself have a really good relationship off the field so hopefully that will be the case on the field too and we are looking forward to it,” said De Jongh.
“He is a big physical guy who we will be looking for to give us momentum going forward. He also has great skills, so he can create space both on his inside and his outside.” ( Please note all ye Taute knockers)
Pat Howard has been added to the bench in the place occupied by Taute last week in the only other change to the match day squad.
DHL WESTERN PROVINCE: 15.Cheslin Kolbe, 14.Kobus van Wyk, 13.Juan de Jongh (captain), 12.Jaco Taute, 11.Seabelo Senatla, 10.Demetri Catrakilis, 9.Nic Groom, 8.Nizaam Carr, 7.Michael Rhodes, 6.Siya Kolisi, 5.Manuel Carizza, 4.Jean Kleyn, 3.Pat Cilliers, 2.Stephan Coetzee, 1.Alistair Vermaak.
Replacements: 16.Neil Rautenbach, 17.Brok Harris, 18.Ruan Botha, 19.Rynhardt Elstadt, 20.Louis Schreuder, 21.Kurt Coleman, 22.Pat Howard.
