Kobus keeps it consistent
12 Jul 2006
Confidence is high in Cape Town as coach Kobus van der Merwe has made only one forced change to the squad that beat the Vodacom Bulls last Saturday.
Chumani Booi has injured his hamstring and will be replaced by the prolific Zhahier Ryland on the bench.
The Vodacom Western Province team are also still waiting on the results of a scan of Peter Grant’s shoulder, but Van Der Merwe told a press conference in Cape Town that he is confident that the injury is “not that serious”.
Surplus to Springbok requirements, De Wet Barry is available for WP selection, but will only come onto the bench if Grant is ruled out.
“De Wet and Shimmy (Hanyani Shimange) have missed the first three weeks of the competition and have as a result missed all the training,” explained Van Der Merwe.
“They will take some time to get used to the new calls and set structures which we have been employing.”
The WP coach is mindful of the Vodacom Cheetahs success at Newlands over the past few years, but dismisses any suggestions of a psychological advantage.
“We are a new team with a lot of new players. We have been playing some good running rugby, the kind of rugby we want to play and the kind of rugby we think our fans will enjoy,” he said.
Rassie Erasmus told keo.co.za on Tuesday that his side are the favourites for this encounter, and Van Der Merwe was inclined to agree. The pressure is squarely on the Cheetahs.
“We are the underdogs at home, which is not a bad position to be in.”
WP captain Luke Watson agreed with his coach. “If we had beaten the Sharks a couple of weeks ago, it would have been a different situation, as we would have been near the top of the table,” he said.
“The Cheetahs are the form side so far, but we’ve also progressed nicely.”
Vodacom WP: 15. Gio Aplon, 14. Joe Pietersen, 13. Corne Uys, 12. Peter Grant, 11. Egon Seconds, 10. Naas Olivier, 9. Bolla Conradie, 8. Robbie Diack, 7. Justin Melck, 6. Luke Watson (c), 5. Gerrie Britz, 4. Francois van der Merwe, 3. Juan Harris, 2. Schalk Brits, 1. JD Moller. Reserves: 16. Huia Edmonds, 17. Schalk Ferreira, 18. Rob Linde, 19. Pieter Louw, 20. Paul Delport, 21. Sarel Potgieter, 22. Zhahier Ryland.
Vodacom Cheetahs: 15. Bevin Fortuin, 14. Giscard Pieters, 13. JW Jonker, 12. Dale Heidtmann, 11. Gavin Passens, 10. Willem de Waal, 9. Michael Claasens, 8. Ryno van der Merwe, 7. Bian Vermaak, 6. Hendro Scholtz (c), 5. Barend Pieterse, 4. Rory Duncan, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Jaco du Toit, 1. Ollie le Roux. Reserves: 16. Richardt Strauss, 17. Wian du Preez, 18. Corniel van Zyl, 19. Kabamba Floors, 20. Noel Oelschig, 21. Phillip Burger, 22. Gaffie du Toit.
By Jon Cardinelli
26 Comments
12 Jul 2006, 15:52 pm
Go Luke!
12 Jul 2006, 15:54 pm
2
12 Jul 2006, 15:56 pm
Does anyone know what has happened to Ross Skeate and Andries Bekker? If I recall Skeate should have been fit by now to return to Currie Cup – or has he been ruled out for a futher few weeks.
Thank god Sky are showing this game… got a couple Grey Bloem Boere next door and I can’t wait to piss on their parade.
12 Jul 2006, 15:59 pm
Ja Vudu, can’t wait for Skeate and Bekker to return. Reading his colomb on another related website he is up for return very,very soon.
12 Jul 2006, 16:03 pm
Ek wonder deur hoeveel kussingslope gaan ou Ollie Le Roux as hy oorslaap in n hotel…seker hy vra by Spur die olie aan waarmee hulle sy kos voor berei het om aan sy hare te smeer…
…..’OLIE’ LE ROUX
12 Jul 2006, 16:04 pm
CLOSE THAT SPUR AND WATCH OUT FOR YOUR WINDOWS….Olie and Davids are in town!
12 Jul 2006, 16:05 pm
spokie, jy is korrek. olie is baie goedkoper as gel, boonop borg die spur dit ook. ek het gehoor hy vat die groot 210 liter dromme.
12 Jul 2006, 16:06 pm
Olie eats more than just chicken!
12 Jul 2006, 16:06 pm
Skeate ok, but Bekker should not be allowed to play club rugby
12 Jul 2006, 16:12 pm
skeate had a groin opp. He’ll play again in 2 weeks…
12 Jul 2006, 16:12 pm
Ok,grappies daar gelaat ek dink De Waal is n baie goeie speler en die Wp sal hom fyn moet dophou, veral as dit gaan reen die naweek sal hy n reuse rol speel.
12 Jul 2006, 16:13 pm
The only drumstick that will fill Ollie up is ostrich and then he`ll have to have both…
12 Jul 2006, 16:13 pm
Leave Barry out of the team please , we don’t need him back. We going to stop the mighty Cheetha’s this weekend. Province are back !
Wenners wenners wenners , wenners sal ons bly !
Liefling nogals , hoe kan die bulle so oefen ?
12 Jul 2006, 16:14 pm
I on the other hand Eetta dee peri peri schicken….
12 Jul 2006, 16:19 pm
On the whole “LEFLING†– thing. Don’t you guys think it’s a bit *** for grown men to listen to that song, over and over and over…and especially while they are practicing???
12 Jul 2006, 16:21 pm
…JP Nel hits the tacklebag, held by P3, hard gets up and says – Liefling sal jy nie maar vergeet en vergewe……
12 Jul 2006, 16:41 pm
Spokie 16 LMAO!
Ek **** Stan het die tape in sy kar se kasset speler en die konsert of beta tape…
12 Jul 2006, 16:44 pm
With the South Eastern blowing at record speed, it’s anybody’s game. Not even the poor ref will have say in the result.
12 Jul 2006, 17:49 pm
Yes, Kobus is consistent.
He will be back back on his consitent losing streak after the weekend.
12 Jul 2006, 18:22 pm
PROOOOOVINCE!!!
Not even a crappy coach can keep us down!!!
12 Jul 2006, 18:34 pm
Stan , One word! Province!!! Not even Liefling kan julle meer help nie.
12 Jul 2006, 18:39 pm
Me thinks the province boys are having secret practice sessions under the guidance of Schalk Brits as skills coach, Piet van Zyl as defence coach, Luke watson as forwards coach and Slaptjips as backs coach.
There’s no way fester can produce those goods.
12 Jul 2006, 20:17 pm
i just read on superrugby that grant is out for the season
13 Jul 2006, 01:11 am
keep on slagging ollie. you know how the saying goes: “he who smokes the cigar with the currie cup in his hand, laughs the best”
13 Jul 2006, 04:50 am
13 Jul 2006, 08:15 am
Nog net 2 dae Andre, 2 dae.
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