Saturday will be a big day for three DHL Western Province teams at DHL Newlands – not just the senior side, who, of course, are the defending Absa Currie Cup champions.
The DHL WP senior team will take on the MTN Golden Lions in an Absa Currie Cup semifinal fixture at 14h30, but before that the DHL WP Emerging team and the DHL WP Under-21s are involved in some big games of their own.
The Province Emerging side will take on the Bulls in a winner-takes-all National Amateur finale at 09h45, before the table-topping WP Under-21 team takes on the Golden Lions U21s in their Absa Provincial Under-21 semifinal at 12h00.
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The John Dobson-coached U21s have lost just one match en route to topping the log this season, picking up a staggering 54 log points from 12 matches – scoring 478 points and conceding just 193. (In the process, they have also scored the most tries – 97 – and conceded the fewest – 26 – this season.)
The WP U21 team – for this weekend – will be announced on Thursday, but coach Dobson is sweating over the fitness of two key forwards, powerful loosehead prop Oliver Kebble (ankle) and star No.8 Rayn Smid (shoulder), with fellow forwards Gerbrandt Grobler and Jurie van Vuuren (both ankles) already both ruled out of the remainder of the season.
Van Vuuren will be out for a few weeks, but Grobler broke his ankle in Durban at the weekend and will be out of action for some time.
“Losing both Jurie and Gerbrandt is a big loss,” said Dobson, “so we're obviously hoping, for continuity's sake, that Oliver and Rayn will be ready. However, Rayn seems more likely (to be fit) than Olly.
“We're very fortunate to have depth at lock and loose forward, but it's never ideal to lose key men before the play-offs and Gerbrandt's injury is a serious one.
“That said,” added Dobson, “I'm very proud of the team and the hunger that they've shown throughout the season. You know, we've beaten the Sharks, the Lions and the Bulls – home and away – losing just our season-opener against the Cheetahs.
“It's a big game for us on Saturday, with a lot at stake, and we certainly won't be taking our opponents lightly.”
Meanwhile, Senior Professional coach Allister Coetzee also lauded the performance of the WP Under-21s, having called upon the likes of Michael Willemse, Grobler, Josh Katzen, Smid, Tim Swiel and Pat Howard at times in
2013 – Cheslin Kolbe, of course, having started the season as part of the U21 set-up.
“We work together at the HPC and that's an advantageous position to be in,” said Coetzee.
“Our philosophy on giving young players an opportunity is bearing fruit and what's been nice is the young players taking the opportunities while the team are winning.
“That's the right combination, as development takes place much quicker and in a positive way, so I'm really pleased that we have talent for the next couple of years and that we have the right players here.”
* Flyhalf Tim Swiel currently tops the overall Provincial Under-21 points-scoring charts this season with 146 points, whilst fullback/wing Craig Barry (eight tries) and speedster Devon Williams (seven tries) are also amongst the competition's top try-scorers going into the play-offs.
DHL Newlands fixture list for Saturday, October 19:
09h45 – National Amateur Final:
DHL Western Province Emerging team v Blue Bulls Amateur team
12h00 – Absa Provincial Under-21 semifinal:
DHL Western Province U21s v MTN Golden Lions U21s
14h00 – Absa Currie Cup semifinal:
DHL Western Province v MTN Golden Lions
