DHL Western Province have suffered three big injuries ahead of the business-end of the 2014 Absa Currie Cup competition.
Lock Ruan Botha (high ankle injury) will miss the remainder of the season, whilst fellow lock Jean Kleyn (AC Joint) will be out for three to four weeks, as will fullback Cheslin Kolbe (transverse process).
Lock/flank Rynhardt Elstadt is back from suspension, whilst flyhalf/fullback Dillyn Leyds has joined the team at training after returning from Perth to take up his contract with DHL Western Province.
DHL WP will travel to Bloemfontein to take on the Free State Cheetahs on Saturday (kick-off 14h00).
The full DHL Western Province injury report (29/09/14):
– Lock Ruan Botha (high ankle injury) will spend six weeks in a moon boot, before undergoing six weeks of rehabilitation after that.
– Lock Jean Kleyn (AC Joint) is out for three to four weeks.
– Fullback Cheslin Kolbe faces a three to four week lay-off with a slight fracture to the vertebrae (exact medical term: transverse process).
– Centre Michael van der Spuy (hip pointer) is making better progress after the weekend and will be assessed again on Tuesday. He should be training fully again by Thursday.
– Hooker Tiaan Liebenberg (back) will be reviewed on a week-to-week basis. Allister Coetzee: “His return this year will be a bonus.”
– Lock Gerbrandt Grobler (shoulder) is still a few weeks away from being considered for selection, whilst fellow lock Tazz Fuzani (broken arm) will not be available for selection again this year.
QUOTES FROM DHL WESTERN PROVINCE COACH ALLISTER COETZEE:
On the latest injuries in the DHL WP camp:
“It’s all part of the game, I guess, but I have faith in those guys coming in – despite the initial disappointment of losing Ruan, Jean and Cheslin. In Cheslin’s case, a vertebrae injury sounds worse than it is. But I am hopeful of him (Cheslin) still playing a part in the 2014 Absa Currie Cup if his injury responds well.”
On facing the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein this Saturday:
“The Free State Cheetahs have improved considerably since the start of the Absa Currie Cup season and they play a similar game to the Pumas. If you want to win the Currie Cup you need to win away from home – as we did in Nelspruit, despite the various injury disruptions.”
On the return of Dillyn Leyds:
“Dillyn is no stranger to our systems. He was one of our best players in last year’s cup-winning DHL WP Under-21 team and he will definitely come into contention at fullback – especially with Justin Geduld and Seabelo Senatla with the SA Sevens team now too.”