Coetzee sticks with winning formula
by Gavin Rich 05 September 2012, 13:27
DHL Western Province have made three changes for Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup clash with the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemonftein, but two of those were forced by injury so coach Allister Coetzee has stuck to the mantra that you don’t change winning combinations.
The two injured players out are wing Ederies Arendse and scrumhalf Dewaldt
Duvenage, with Damian de Allende coming in for his first start at No 11 in
Arendse’s place. Nic Groom, who was excellent when he replaced Duvenage
for most of last week’s game, gets to wear the No 9 jersey for the first
time this season.
The only unforced change comes at tighthead prop, where Brok Harris
returns for the younger Frans Malherbe.
“The recall of Brok is part of our rotational policy in the front row,”
explained Coetzee.
“We are also aware of the extra need for experience when you play away.
Bloemfontein is always a difficult place to go and play and the Cheetahs,
as we all know, have some really good and clever scrummagers. They are an
experienced unit and it played a role in our selections this week.”
There is still no sign of Gary van Aswegen in the group, even though
Coetzee spoke last week of the need to give him Currie Cup game time ahead
of his probable role as part of the Stormers team in next season’s Super
Rugby. With Demetri Catrakilis set to link up with the Southern Kings in
Super Rugby, it means the flyhalf they may use in next year’s competition
is not getting a chance to progress.
However, Coetzee explained it away by referring to the continuity argument.
“We already have two forced changes at the back, so we felt we would stick
with Kurt Coleman and Demetri as the flyhalves,” he said.
With the WP management placing a big emphasis this year on a youth policy,
the selection of young national under-20 star Pat Howard into the match
day group for the first time is exciting.
“Pat is a really exciting prospect. He weighs over 100 kilograms and
covers both wing and centre. We are looking forward to seeing how he goes
in Bloemfontein,” said the coach..
DHL WP team: Gio Aplon, Gerhard van den Heever, JP du Plessis,
Marcel Brache, Damian Allende, Demetri Catrakilis, Nic Groom, Jebb
Sinclair, Rynhardt Elstadt, Deon Fourie (capt), De Kock Steenkamp, Don
Armand, Brok Harris, Siyabonga Ntubeni, Deon Carstens.
Replacements: Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Wilhelm van der Sluys, Helmut Lehmann,
Louis Schreuder, Patrick Howard, Kurt Coleman.
