DHL Western Province head coach Allister Coetzee has selected his new leadership team ahead of the 2012 Absa Currie Cup based on one major criteria: form.
With Deon Fourie – playing on the flank this week – named as the captain for the Absa Currie Cup season, and centre Marcel Brache instilled as his deputy for the weekend, Coetzee explained his rationale behind the appointment of his new leaders.
“I think it’s important that leaders must select themselves first, not because of their leadership but because of what they do in their positions,” said Coetzee, whose side will host the Sharks in their season-opener at DHL Newlands on Saturday (19h10).
“I think Deon had a fantastic Super Rugby campaign, Marcel is very close to No 10 [flyhalf] and with Juan de Jongh and Jean de Villiers out of the side I think he is the other centre that selects himself.
“Gio Aplon and Joe Pietersen are senior players but they are way too far from play and therefore the No 12 is the ideal person. Marcel’s leadership ability speaks for itself.
“He has got to play first, he has got to play well as a 12 and then I think the other things will kick in. He is a good communicator and he has got great organisational skills, so I’ve got no doubt that these are the right candidates to lead this province.”
Brache will have Burton Francis – a regular for the Stormers this past Vodacom Super Rugby season – on his inside at flyhalf, with Currie Cup debutant JP du Plessis on his outside in the No 13 jersey.
On Francis’s selection, Coetzee added: “This is an opportunity for Burton to establish himself as a starting ten because there is still a lot of competition with Gary van Aswegen (on the bench), and then there’s also Demetri Catrakilis and Kurt Coleman waiting for their opportunities.”
Injuries have forced Coetzee’s hand a bit this week, with nine players set to make their Absa Currie Cup debuts for DHL WP, but the Province boss is excited about the new faces in Blue & White.
“It’s exciting to see that there are nine newcomers to the side, guys that will make their debuts for Western Province. I think that’s what the Currie Cup provides us with – the opportunity for young players and I am really looking forward to see how they go,” he said.
“[Flank] Rynhardt Elstadt is still suffering from a bit of groin stiffness, it is not a tear yet and I think that is what we are trying to prevent here,” added Coetzee, when asked about his injury worries.
“He will probably be out until next week and then we will assess again, but I don’t think it is longer than a two-week injury.
“[Prop] Steven Kitshoff is the other (injured) player. He took a knock in the [Super Rugby] semifinal on his knee and it’s also precuationary. There’s nothing seriously wrong with the knee… it’s just a knock and he’ll probably be out for this week only.”
The DHL Western Province team (vs Sharks):
15. Joe Pietersen
14. Gerhard van den Heever
13. JP du Plessis
12. Marcel Brache
11. Gio Aplon
10. Burton Francis
9. Dewaldt Duvenage
8. Jebb Sinclair
7. Tyrone Holmes
6. Deon Fourie (captain)
5. De Kock Steenkamp
4. Don Armand
3. Frans Malherbe
2. Tiaan Liebenberg
1. Deon Carstens
Reserves:
16. Siyabonga Ntubeni
17. Brok Harris
18. JC Kritzinger
19. Wilhelm van der Sluys
20. Louis Schreuder
21. Gary van Aswegen
22. Damian de Allende
The full programme for Saturday, August 11 (at DHL Newlands):
14h55 – DHL Western Province Under-19 vs Sharks
16h45 – DHL Western Province Under-21 vs Sharks
19h10 – DHL Western Province vs Sharks (Absa Currie Cup)
