Gio Aplon has been in vintage form in the 2013 Absa Currie Cup and, as one would imagine, the DHL Western Province fullback is really enjoying his rugby at the moment.
The nimble speedster has scored three tries in eight games thus far, his attacking play and calming influence in the last line of defence playing a major role in this young DHL WP team's unbeaten run.
Speaking about life in the No.15 jersey, Aplon told www.wprugby.com: “I think it's going well there at the moment – I've enjoyed it (at fullback).
“It doesn't matter where the team needs me I am also comfortable on the wing,” he added, “but I am really enjoying my time at fullback and it really helps if you have got a Cheslin Kolbe next to you who you can just give the ball to and say, 'Run a bit'.”
Aplon's combination with newbie Kolbe has also been a highlight for WP this season, with the latter – in his debut season – having also touched down three times in 2013.
Their interplay – and speed and incisiveness on attack – has been a joy to behold along with the additional pace and power of the likes of Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh (when not with the Springboks), Michael van der Spuy, Pat Howard and Gerhard van den Heever – not to mention three excellent flyhalves in Kurt Coleman, Gary van Aswegen and Demetri Catrakilis feeding them the ball.
“The main thing with Cheslin and the type of game he plays is never to change a lot in the way he is playing, you must just play with the natural ability that you have got,” said Aplon, who turns 31 on Sunday.
“I have been helping him with small little details and to improve, but not changing his game too much.”
Province will host the MTN Golden Lions in Cape Town on Saturday – for once an early afternoon match at DHL Newlands, much to Aplon's delight.
“We have played at DHL Newlands a couple of times and the ball wasn't dry, so I think it will be a nice opportunity for us. It will be the first time we have played a two o'clock game so we will have to get used to the conditions,” he said.
“Hopefully the dry weather suits us and we can play a bit more keeping in mind that we are aiming for a home semifinal. We don't want to go into our shell and play percentage rugby… we want to play to our full potential.”
A victory for WP would see the defending champions secure a home semifinal, meaning next weekend's clash against the Sharks in Durban (October 12) could become a shootout for first place on the log.
However, before they can worry about their final league clash there is the not so small matter of playing host to the dangerous Lions, who held Province to a pulsating 31-31 draw when they met in Johannesburg in late August.
“We conceded four tries against them last time which shows their quality, they were about 23 points down and they came back so that is the massive threat. They are an all-out attacking team so we really have to sharpen up our defence and be well prepared in that respect.
“I don't think we are on top of our game. In Vodacom Super Rugby we lost the close games and now we are pulling them through, but it doesn't feel like we are playing complete rugby,” said Aplon.
“We are really striving to play complete rugby and putting teams to bed when we have that opportunity, we are not there yet we are scraping some games through and we are unbeaten at the moment but we have drawn two games, one here at DHL Newlands, which was disappointing for us.”
* The DHL WP v Lions match will get underway at 14h00. There will also be two early-morning curtain-raisers at DHL Newlands – the WP Under-19s will be in action against the Lions U19s in a crucial clash at 09h45 and the table-topping WP Under-21s will take on the Lions U21s at 11h45.
** Match tickets for Saturday can be purchased online, by clicking here, from Postnet Outlets or the Newlands Box Office. Tickets are now also available from selected SPAR stores in the Western Cape. (Ask in-store for details.)
Ticket prices start at just R35 (for standing), with seating tickets priced from R65 to R95. Scholars tickets can be purchased directly from the WP Rugby offices.
