Ex Supersport
Its interesting to take this match 22 and in the following:
Kitshoff, Liebenberg, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Ruan Botha, Kolisi, Vermuelen, Burger, Jean, Taute and Allende. Looks to be a good Super 16 squad?
Coetzee is right to have gone for some bigger loosies. The bulle musn't think they are going to walk the WP pack.
Go WP the currie Cup belongs to us!!!
The experienced Jaco Taute is the only missing link from an otherwise near full strength DHL Western Province team that will play Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup semifinal against the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Newlands.
According to coach Allister Coetzee, inside centre Taute is still battling with his ongoing rib injury that has sidelined him since the penultimate round robin game against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs and was not considered for the play-off game.
There is a good chance, however, that the Springbok will be ready for the final should WP get that far.
Otherwise, with the exception of lock Ruan Botha and Siya Kolisi, who have been out injured for a while, the team is what Coetzee would have regarded as his strongest when he looked ahead at the domestic season, with Seabelo Senatla returning from injury and Bok Sevens duty to claim back the No 11 jersey in which he was in such outstanding form earlier in the competition.
Cheslin Kolbe is over his injury problems and returns at fullback, as does lock Jean Kleyn. Those were the doubts after the Cheetahs game, so it is only Taute who has failed to make it back to full fitness in time for the first playoff fixture.
As anticipated, Coetzee has returned all his first choice players to the starting team after going with a second string combination against the Sharks last week.
The talking point selection, though anticipated, is the inclusion of Rynhardt Elstadt at No 6 flank ahead of Sikhumbuzo Notshe, who was excellent at No 8 last week and played openside earlier in the season.
The selection of a big back row geared towards the task of matching the Bulls’ physicality will be questioned by critics and will become a sticking point if WP lose, but Coetzee clearly recognises the importance of fronting against these particular opponents and this selection is geared towards achieving that objective.
“We’ve selected the best possible team and it is fantastic to welcome back players like Cheslin and Kleyn from injury, as well as having Seabelo back from Sevens duty,” said Coetzee.
One tough call that Coetzee had to make was on the bench, where he has opted to go for two props in Oli Kebble and Brok Harris rather than an extra lock such as Gerbrandt Grobler.
When it comes to that position, however, Coetzee reasons that with Michael Rhodes and Elstadt on the flanks, the second row is well covered as they have both played plenty of their rugby there.
"We are going to need Oli's carrying ability in the second half," said Coetzee.
The one previously untried young WP player to have played his way into the semifinal because of his performance for the second stringers last week is wing EW Viljoen, who finds a place as one of the backline reserves.
Michael van der Spuy, who plays for the injured Taute, joins Elstadt as the only representatives of last week’s starting team that will do so again on Saturday.
DHL Western Province team: 15.Cheslin Kolbe, 14.Kobus van Wyk, 13.Juan de Jongh (capt), 12.Michael van der Spuy, 11.Seabelo Senatla, 10.Demetri Catrakilis, 9.Nic Groom, 8.Nizaam Carr, 7.Michael Rhodes, 6.Rynhardt Elstadt, 5.Manuel Carizza, 4.Jean Kleyn, 3.Pat Cilliers, 2.Scarra Ntubeni, 1.Alistair Vermaak.
Replacements: 16.Neil Rautenbach, 17.Oli Kebble, 18.Brok Harris, 19.Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 20.Louis Schreuder, 21.Kurt Coleman, 22.EW Viljoen.
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