DHL Western Province coach Allister Coetzee has some welcome selection options ahead of Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup, Round Five clash against the Sharks at DHL Newlands (kick-off 19h10).
Flyhalf Gary van Aswegen is back to full fitness from a shoulder injury and trained flat-out on Monday, whilst Demetri Catrakilis – who is back in the Cape on a full-time basis – is nearing full fitness after also battling with a shoulder niggle in recent weeks.
Coetzee, however, could opt for continuity in the flyhalf position – for this Saturday’s clash against the Sharks – with Kurt Coleman having scored 26 points in his two starts in the No.10 jersey over the past fortnight.
“Kurt has played really well. He’s made no mistakes, defended well and kicked six from seven goals,” said Coetzee on Monday.
“It’s not an easy (selection) decision, but I’ll look at what the Sharks bring and who’s best suited for the game this weekend.”
Catrakilis has not taken contact at training since returning from Port Elizabeth and Coetzee revealed: “He (Demetri) definitely won’t start. We need to give him more time to run our systems in contact and he hasn’t done that yet.”
In other WP injury news, meanwhile, flanker Rynhardt Elstadt (tendonitis) missed training on Monday but will be fine for Saturday, whilst No.8 Nizaam Carr was a bit stiff after Friday’s clash against the Lions at Ellis Park. Carr took part in limited training on Monday and will also be available to face the Sharks.
The Sharks, after a first-round home loss to GWK Griquas, are the form team in the Currie Cup at present and they top the standings – with 14 points – after four rounds of action.
WP remain the only unbeaten team in the tournament thus far, but they trail the Sharks by just two log points ahead of this weekend – the final match in the first round of fixtures in the 2013 Absa Currie Cup.
Looking ahead to the tactical challenge of facing the Sharks, Coetzee told www.wprugby.com: “Their gameplan is definitely different to what it has been. It’s almost a suffocate and strangle type of gameplan where they hardly play in their half. It’s a bit of ‘tennis’ that you see.
“It’s a Sharks team that’s got a good kicking game – that’s what we’ll be facing and we’ll have to make good decisions based on that.
“The Sharks could score from 60 metres out in the past from turnover ball. These guys will also have a look at it, but I think the kicking option is first.”
* Match tickets for Saturday’s clash at DHL Newlands (kick-off 19h10) can be purchased online, by clicking here, from Postnet Outlets or the Newlands Box Office.
Tickets are now also available at the following Western Cape SPAR stores: Old Oak SPAR, SPAR Philippi, SPAR Century & Plattekloof SUPERSPAR, with ALL Western Cape SPAR stores to follow over the next few weeks.
Ticket prices start at just R35 (for standing), with seating tickets priced from R65 to R95. Scholars tickets can be purchased directly from the WP Rugby offices.
