The return of Springboks Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Duane Vermeulen, Juan de Jongh and Jean de Villiers would be a boost for any team. However, their intensity at training this week is what has pleased coach Allister Coetzee the most.
Etzebeth, Kolisi, Vermeulen and De Jongh have all been drafted straight back into the DHL Western Province starting line-up, with national skipper Jean de Villiers starting on the bench.
Of course, the unbeaten Province team will be heading to Durban in their final-round Absa Currie Cup encounter on Saturday (kick-off 19h10) – knowing that a victory would give them a top-of-the-log finish.
“What we have seen throughout the week is the intensity of those players when they train and the accuracy that they bring to the team,” said DHL WP coach Coetzee when asked about the returning Springboks.
“The motivation is completely different from a couple of years ago when the Boks came back, last year they came back and they had to salvage and help us to qualify, but this year we have qualified already – so I'd like the team to get connected in this game.
“What I am looking for is the Currie Cup guys to lift their game and those Boks to maintain those same standards,” he added. “We are really proud of our (DHL Stormers/DHL WP) Boks, they have really excelled in the Castle Rugby Championship and we look forward to similar performances (for DHL WP).”
Facing the Sharks in Durban is always a tough challenge, with the Men in Black & White having brought back some Springboks of their own – the likes of Beast Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis and Jannie du Plessis to name just three.
Speaking about the weekend's clash at Kings Park – in a repeat of last year's Absa Currie Cup Final – Coetzee told www.wprugby.com: “It's going to be one massive game, a Springbok-laden Sharks team which we have a lot of respect for. The Sharks side is a well-organised team this year, it's completely different to what we faced last year.
“It is important for the team that have been playing in the Currie Cup up until now to understand the intensity and the accuracy that is required this weekend.
“We have spoken about Super Rugby intensity and it will be exactly that come this weekend.
“Knowing that you are in a semifinal, what better preparation can you ask for? Going to the Sharks to see where you are at that intensity before the knockout stages – we need that.
“Instead of playing your last round-robin game knowing that you will get five points and beat the side, this is really going to be a big match and we are going to be tested all over the field. At scrum-time, line-out time, at the breakdown, at the back with the kicking game so it is really going to be a proper match.”
Coetzee, however, had some tough selection choices to make this week.
Players like Nizaam Carr (who has been excellent at No.8 this season), Josh Katzen and Michael van der Spuy have all dropped out of the DHL WP matchday squad, whilst in-form forward Michael Rhodes has moved down to the bench to make way for the Boks. (Flanker Rynhardt Elstadt is injured and thus misses out.)
Coetzee explained: “It's about getting the best possible team out there, and this, for me, is the best team for this weekend. Unfortunately, these are the dynamics of rugby – we always knew it would take more than 15 or 22 players to be successful this season.
“A player like Nizaam Carr has been outstanding throughout the competition, but he has played his part and there is a Springbok coming back. I don't think it's that difficult, it is just how it is, that is how life is sometimes.
“All our players have been unbelievable during the Absa Currie Cup campaign and they are unfortunate (to miss out), but anything can happen this weekend and then they're back in the mix. The thing about our squad system is that those players accepted it well and they are positive and they are supporting the team for this weekend.”
Speaking about national captain Jean de Villiers, who will start from the bench this weekend, the WP boss added: “I just think that has a lot of things, not just as a player being physically taxed on his body but also mentally. He has been the leader in the Rugby Championship so he has had a lot on his plate and he is really comfortable to come off the bench this weekend.
“He is 100%, the way he has trained there is nothing wrong. I think the big thing is that it's not about the 80 minutes on the Saturday, but about the time on his feet during the week and we have taken care of that with Jean. He wasn't involved on Monday at all and I gave him off Tuesday as well so he is really fresh and he is fine.”
Fellow centre Juan de Jongh is battling with a leg strain, but Coetzee is confident that his star centre will take his place in the No.13 jersey. (Should he miss out, Michael van der Spuy will play at outside centre, with De Villiers still starting from the bench.)
“Juan is just a bit tight with his thigh muscles – (but) he should be fine,” said the DHL WP boss.
Saturday's top-of-the-log clash in Durban kicks-off at 19h10. (CLICK HERE for the DHL WP team.)
