DHL Western Province flyhalf Kurt Coleman will not be available for selection this week once again, after being an 11th hour withdrawal from the team that won in Durban last weekend.
Coleman was pulled from the team last Friday morning with a calf muscle injury, which has not responded well to treatment since then – meaning he will also not be considered for this Friday’s Absa Currie Cup clash against the Blue Bulls at DHL Newlands (kick-off 19h00).
However, Nizaam Carr – the team captain in the absence of 2015 squad captain Juan de Jongh – has made encouraging progress on his hamstring injury, which saw him miss the Sharks victory in Durban. A call will be made on him when the team is announced on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, match tickets for Friday, at just R20 (standing) and R30-50 (seating), are still available – online at http://wprugby.computicket.com and also from Shoprite/Checkers stores and the DHL Newlands Box Office.
The full DHL Western Province injury report (14/09/15):
– Flyhalf Kurt Coleman (groin) will not be considered for selection this week.
– No.8 Nizaam Carr (hamstring strain) will be given until Tuesday – when the DHL WP team is announced – to prove his fitness ahead of the weekend.
– Inside centre Jaco Taute (groin) is up for selection this week after missing the Sharks clash.
– Centre and 2015 squad captain Juan de Jongh (MCL – knee) is making good progress from his long-term injury and should be ready for a return sooner than anticipated.
QUOTES FROM DHL WP HEAD COACH JOHN DOBSON:
On DHL WP’s recent form, which has seen them win two games in a row (with bonus points) after two lossess in succession:
“When we lost those two games we had to change our course a bit. We were playing a team based largely on last year’s Absa Currie Cup, but we took a view – given our results – of building a team a bit, which has seen guys like Oli Kebble, Rob du Preez and Huw Jones getting more exposure.
“So we (also) thought, ‘Okay, if we’re not going to grind our way to a few wins, let’s start playing some more rugby too’. It seems to be working, but we’re by no means the finished article.
“Rugby is a crazy sport… In the second week I was quite a good coach, but after losing to the Bulls in Pretoria I should’ve been fired! I can’t sit here as the messiah either, we need to string a few games together first in a row.”
On being back at home this week against the Vodacom Blue Bulls:
“They ‘out-Provinced’ us last time out, but, in truth, we were well beaten. It’s always a challenge facing a form team like the Blue Bulls, but we have a bit of momentum back in our game ahead of such a big challenge against a form Bulls side.
“It’s always great being back at DHL Newlands – especially for a North-South Derby – and we’re looking forward to the challenge and having The Faithful behind us once again.”
