DHL Western Province flanker Sikhumbuzo Notshe will miss this Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup clash against ORC Griquas with an AC Joint injury.
The impressive Notshe is not expected to be out for longer than a week, but coach John Dobson does have some loose forward options to replace him.
In other news, Springbok squad member Steven Kitshoff (loosehead prop) and Barbarians representative Nic Groom (scrumhalf) are both available for selection this week.
* Individual match tickets are on sale for Saturday – DHL Western Province’s second home game of the 2015 Absa Currie Cup season (kick-off 17h05).
Starting at just R20 for standing room, with seats ranging between R30, R35, R40 and R50, match tickets can be bought at Computicket – either online (see our ticketing page, http://wprugby.computicket.com) or in-store – and also from Shoprite/Checkers stores and the DHL Newlands Box Office from Tuesday onwards.
The DHL Western Province Under-19 and Under-21 teams will also both be playing in curtain-raisers against the Leopards (at 12h45 and 14h45, respectively) on Saturday. Match tickets are valid for all three games at DHL Newlands.
The full DHL Western Province injury report (31/08/15):
– Flanker Sikhumbuzo Notshe (AC Joint) will sit out this weekend with a minor niggle.
– Looshead prop Oli Kebble (hamstring) is still not quite 100% and will sit out this week.
– Scrumhalf Jano Vermaak (finger) is taking a bit longer to recover than initially anticipated and will not be available for the Griquas clash.
– Lock/flank Jurie van Vuuren (shoulder) is training at 100% and will be available for selection for this week.
– Lock Chris van Zyl (knee) is also back at full training and will be available once again.
QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH JOHN DOBSON:
On replacing flanker Sikhumbuzo Notshe:
“We have some options with Jurie van Vuuren back to full fitness and someone like Chris Cloete deserves an opportunity after coming off the bench so far. Chris starting would mean Rynhardt Elstadt moving back to No.7, but we’re comfortable either way in our players.”
On the return of prop Steven Kitshoff:
“It would’ve been a tough one for Kitsie not selecting him after the disappointment of not making the World Cup squad. It’s also tough on Ali Vermaak, but Steven is a proven performer and he’s very hungry to play again.”
On being back at home at DHL Newlands this week:
“We’ve played three of our four games thus far away from home – including two in a row. It’s always great to be back at DHL Newlands and we would love to reward our die-hard fans with a victory at home.”