Defending champions DHL Western Province could have fit-again skipper Juan de Jongh back in the mix for Friday’s Absa Currie Cup clash against the Golden Lions (kick-off 18h00).
De Jongh has been out of action since mid-August with an MCL (knee) injury and his return is a huge boost ahead of the 2015 play-offs.
Chris Cloete, an 11th hour withdrawal ahead of last weekend’s 50-19 win over the Pumas, is fit and up for selection (as is prop Steven Kitshoff), but calls will still be made over fellow loose forward Rynhardt Elstadt and fullback Cheslin Kolbe.
The DHL WP team, to face the Lions in Johannesburg on Friday, will be announced on Tuesday afternoon.
The full DHL Western Province injury report (28/09/15):
– Juan de Jongh (MCL) is back and available for selection.
– Flanker Chris Cloete (calf muscle) is 100% fit and available for this weekend.
– Flyhalf Kurt Coleman (calf) is available for selection this week, after missing his team’s recent wins over the Sharks, Bulls and Pumas.
– Loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff (chest) is up for selection again this week.
– Final calls will be made over the availability of flanker Rynhardt Elstadt (thigh) and fullback Cheslin Kolbe (bone bruising) on Tuesday.
– Hooker Scarra Ntubeni (calf muscle) is one week into his lay-off in what is a potential three-week injury.
QUOTES FROM DHL WP HEAD COACH JOHN DOBSON:
On the return of squad captain Juan de Jongh:
“Medically he has 40 minutes (in him), it’s up to us to decide which 40 minutes it will be – the first or second half. Having him back is a big boost for us, which is why I am considering to start with him. He is the leader of this squad, everyone looks up to him, so his return is certainly timely.”
On DHL WP’s semifinal permutations:
“We might have to pick up ten points (from ten) in our next two games, but all we can do is to do our best and go out there and give ourselves the best chance of getting that home semifinal. We can’t worry about the Lions or what other teams are doing.”
On facing the unbeaten and top-of-the-log Lions in Johannesburg on Friday:
“There’s an incredible belief in how they’re trying to play rugby. They have a massive work-rate. Their pack works and they come at you for the entire game. Marnitz Boshoff is currently on 56 out of 58 goal kicks at the moment and he gets good distance too out of hand. They also have Warren Whiteley back and they are deadly at the breakdown.
“There may be one or two defensive holes and they do turn over a bit of ball, so we need to get through some phases to put them under pressure.”
