DHL Western Province assistant coach Robbie Fleck has praised the influence of the young WP backline in last weekend’s Absa Currie Cup opening-round draw against the Blue Bulls.
With Pat Howard (outside centre) and Cheslin Kolbe (left-wing) making their first starts, and someone like 2012 Currie Cup winner Damian de Allende just his sixth start for WP, the backline boasted an average age of 23 at DHL Newlands.
The rest of the team combined was hardly much older, with the forward pack boasting an average age of 23,6 – giving the entire starting line-up an average age of just 23,3.
Still, the young WP backs acquitted themselves well on the day, as Howard and fullback Gio Aplon scored first-half tries to give Province the edge at half-time, before the hard-fought match ended in a 24-all stalemate.
“For a young backline I thought we played really well, it’s just a pity we didn’t get enough possession,” said Fleck, DHL WP’s backline coach.
“In the first 20 minutes we really had them at sixes and sevens, our general attack worked nicely and we were in good shape. We stretched the Bulls in that regard and the first try (scored by Aplon) was probably the best we’ve scored in a long time.”
Outside centre Howard scored a great try himself in the 20th minute, which was set up by inside centre De Allende, and Fleck admitted to being very excited about WP’s new-look centre combination – made up of two 21-year-olds.
“I’m very happy with the first start between the two of them. Pat had a good (starting) debut. He scored a brilliant try and had one or two nice runs outside of that.
“Damian was a monster in midfield – he was phenomenal. This kid is just getting better and better every week. He’s in a leadership role now and he’s taken that to heart. If he can keep performing the way he does, there’ll be good opportunities for him in the future.”
Another backline debutant, speedster Kolbe, had a busy performance in the No.11 jersey – showing an appetite for the rough stuff alongside veteran Gio Aplon who looks to have settled in the No.15 jersey for Province.
“Cheslin’s our X-factor and he had a great debut for us. Every time he had possession he showed a bit of magic, it’s just unfortunate he had to come off due to injury,” Fleck told www.wprugby.com.
“Fullback is Gio’s preferred position and he had another good game. His work-rate is phenomenal off the ball – he’s creating opportunities and directing traffic at the back.
“Cheslin is going to get his opportunity at 15 at some point, but right now Gio is the man in charge,” added Fleck. “We need a bit of seniority and leadership at the back and Cheslin is quite happy on the wing.”