Elstadt to face bolstered Bulls
by Gavin Rich 02 October 2012, 08:12
DHL Western Province are set to welcome back Rynhardt Elstadt in what will be a timely return from injury ahead of Friday night’s Absa Currie Cup north/south showdown with the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus.
The hosts, who have struggled so much this season that they foot the log, will welcome back three Springboks in the form of Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dean Greyling and Bjorn Basson, so the Cape side will be pleased to have Elstadt back.
The big flank has recovered from a rib injury that kept him out for the past three weeks.
“It is good to have Rynhardt back because we are going into a critical stage of the season and we know the Bulls will be really coming at us on Friday,” said Coetzee.
“They will probably be treating this as their match of the season in the sense that they have to win to both remain in contention for the semifinals and stay away from the relegation zone.
"We know we are going to have our work cut out, and while Rynhardt probably won’t yet be up to full fitness, we will welcome his physical presence for the time he is on the field. Against the Bulls that is important.”
There were no further injury concerns for WP when team doctor Arthur Williams reported to the media on Monday night, but Marcel Brache and Louis Schreuder both sat out training. Brache has a hip injury and Schreuder has a problem with his shin.
“They just sat out as a precautionary measure but we expect them to be ready to play on Friday,” said Williams.
Springbok Gio Aplon is in the second week of his rehabilitation for an ankle injury and won’t play on Friday.
