Siya among star WP returnees

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi was among a trio of star players who returned to training for DHL Western Province on Monday at the start of the build-up to what has now become a crucial home Currie Cup clash with the Xerox Golden Lions this coming weekend.

Dillyn Leyds, who was part of the Springbok match-day squad in Johannesburg this past weekend, was in the thick of things as WP trained on a chilly morning at the High Performance Centre in Bellville, and so was Kolisi.

Sergeal Petersen, who was already back in training after his injury last week, looks fit and ready to play again.

Assistant coach Dawie Snyman wasn’t quite sure about the status of Kolisi, who has been out of rugby with a knee injury since the Stormers went to Johannesburg for their third last Super Rugby game in early June, or Petersen.

However, he expects Leyds, who could boost WP’s attacking game significantly with his X-factor, to be in the selection mix for the Lions game.

"Dillyn is definitely back and will be available. I am not sure about Sergeal’s status. I’m not sure if he will be ready this week, but he was training with us last week already," said Snyman.

"Siya looks good. I was with the forwards just now and he was training with them. He brings an energy to the group, be it as a member of the playing group or with his contributions in team meetings, so it is good to have him back.

"I am not sure of what his status is regarding this week. We will find that out later. But the initial plan was that he would train with us for two weeks and then play. Unfortunately we have a bye next weekend (after the Lions game) so I don't know where that leaves us. We will have to discuss it with the Springbok medical staff and see what their expectations are."

Apart from the fact that his knee was heavily strapped, Kolisi appeared to move without any discomfort. Understandably though the medical staffs of both WP and the national team would be reluctant to rush him back given what is on the line this year.

The WP squad returned from their trip to Durban bitterly disappointed with their defeat to the Sharks, with the consensus being that they had conspired against themselves, a view that Snyman was happy to endorse.

"We were definitely our own worst enemy with the errors we made through bad kicks and the handling errors we made. We gave the Sharks easy tries with two or three bad kicks and then there was also the intercept try they scored that allowed them to get ahead of us. That forced us to chase the game and we didn't take our chances like we should have."

SELECTION POSERS

Perhaps WP should have put the boot onto ball more often in the second half, when they were playing with a strong wind at their backs.

As it was, the Sharks were pinned in their own territory, but WP were guilty of not mixing up their attack enough and were let down by tactical naivety.

However, Snyman hinted that trying to keep the ball alive as much as possible is part of the WP growth plan for next year's Super Rugby.

"We do want to encourage the guys to try and keep the ball alive, but you have to be sure you are in control in contact and have players up in support. We have to put ourselves in situations where we can make better decisions, but it was good defence from the Sharks so credit must also go to them."

WP head coach John Dobson faces some interesting selection posers this week. If Leyds comes into the starting team one of the promising newcomer at wing, Edwill van der Merwe, or fullback SP Marais will have to make way.

If Kolisi is available the loose-forward options available to Dobson might be particularly interesting, but that seems unlikely just yet.

Even without Kolisi though, or for that matter Juarno Augustus, who is out for another two weeks, Dobson faces a dilemma given the good impact made off the bench in Durban by Springbok Sikhumbuzo Notshe.

The No 8 looks ready to start at the back of the scrum, which would logically mean Jaco Coetzee goes back to openside flank for the game against the Lions.

But then what happens to the impressive Ernst van Rhyn? He could move to blindside flank, but JD Schickerling was good there against the Sharks and it is worth trying him there again. Dobson could also though return him to his regular position in the second row.

The WP coach certainly has a myriad options and it is a good place for him to be in. That is all the more reason for him to be scratching his head at how his team let it slip against a Sharks team that fronted better than expected at forward but still came a distant second when it came to the territory and possession stats.

The return of Leyds's unpredictability from the back will be a big help and Petersen too if he is ready to play this week.