Melck to fill Luke’s shoes
26 Jul 2007
Justin Melck will play openside in the absence of Luke Watson for Saturday’s Currie Cup game in Bloemfontein.
The Province skipper’s leg injury has ruled him out for two weeks which allows Melck, who has completed his disciplinary ban, to slot in at No 6. Gerrie Britz will continue at blindside, while Robbie Diack remains at No 8. Schalk Brits will captain the side in Watson’s stead.
Andries Bekker replaces Selborne Boome in the second row, while the only other change sees Bolla Conradie back at scrumhalf. Coach Gary Gold explained these two players had earned a start after an impressive showing against the Bulls.
“We thought we’d give the old man [Boome] a break,” said Gold. “I though Andries had a very strong impact in the game last week and so he deserves a start.
“Bolla also needed some game time after a good display off the bench. He didn’t play at all overseas [with the Boks] and even though Paul Delport played well against the Bulls, I decided to give him a start. It was a tough call.”
This is Bekker’s first appearance on the run-on side since the Super 14. A lower back injury had kept him out of the final games of that campaign and he has been brought back gradually in the Currie Cup.
“Andries and Ross [Skeate] share a good understanding and form a powerful duo. We will also need Andries’s height against the Cheetahs who possess the best line-out in the country.”
The weather has been terrible in Cape Town this week making training sessions very difficult. There was a brief reprieve on Wednesday but another cold front has hit with full force. Incidentally, Wednesday was WP’s rest day meaning they have only been training in wet conditions.
“It’s not ideal, but we can use it to our advantage,” said Gold. “I’d much rather train in the wet and go and play in the dry than the other way round.”
WP – 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Dylan des Fountain, 12 De Wet Barry, 11 Sireli Naqelevuki, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Bolla Conradie, 8 Robbie Diack, 7 Gerrie Britz, 6 Justin Melck, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Ross Skeate, 3 Eddie Andrews, 2 Schalk Brits (c), 1 JD Moller.
Subs: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Selborne Boome, 20 Pieter Myburgh, 21 Paul Delport, 22 Brent Russell.
By Jon Cardinelli
31 Comments
26 Jul 2007, 13:07 pm
Good move Melck is the right build for the job, rate him more as a fetcher anyway… so Schalk is captain… interesting that he was been chosen above Barry and Boome…
26 Jul 2007, 13:11 pm
Dis n nice span op papier….. op die veld weet ek nie altyd nie
26 Jul 2007, 13:16 pm
Altyd goed op papier.
26 Jul 2007, 13:17 pm
Rugby word op gras gespeel, nie op papier nie !!
26 Jul 2007, 13:18 pm
VRYSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT !!!!!!
26 Jul 2007, 13:22 pm
Altyd ‘n goeie span op papier , nou moet hulle net spark vir ‘n slag. Kan nie sien hoe ons teen die Cheetha’s kan verloor nie. Maar nou ja , al die beste vir die span.
26 Jul 2007, 13:22 pm
#2
Nice team on paper yes… when you look at individuals of course, but there is no balance. Too many individual stars or players being played out of position. We need to find a balance.
JD Moller needs to up his game. Schalk Brits needs to show some magic or face sitting on the bench behind Liebenberg. Eddie Andrews, hmm. WP need to find a real tighthead. Harris seems a light-weight between men. Bring back Pat Barnard if he’s still eligible for Boks. Or else hope Rassie brings Jannie with him.
Loose-forwards we need to sort out quickly. Melck seems decent enough, but stats don’t lie, and they say that Melck is no star. In an ideal world I’d go for Pieter Myburgh, Leon Karemaker & Pieter Louw as the WP loose-forwards in Schalk’s absence, but seems they are right down the pecking order… so I’d settle on at least having Pieter Louw in there somewhere. Also telling Luke not to take the ball from the base of the scrum unless he intends to only drive it forward.
26 Jul 2007, 13:24 pm
I have a feel we…WP….are gonna win it.
Have to start praying now….gotta go
26 Jul 2007, 13:25 pm
Hendrik Pienaar,
Jannie Du Plessis is rumoured to be coming down with Rassie.
I thought Leon Karemaker retired from rugby?
Didn’t he have an illness or eye problems? I remember hearing something along those lines.
26 Jul 2007, 13:31 pm
Pieter Louw’s father has passed away this week , thats why he is not there.
26 Jul 2007, 13:37 pm
CT – Karemaker played for his club 2 weeks ago so I dont think he has retired and Piter Louw cannot make it this w\end due to a family funeral.
26 Jul 2007, 13:39 pm
In any case, melck is a better flanker than 8th man. In an Ideal world I would go for Watson 6 , Melck 7 and Diack 8. Diack really dissapinted in the S14 but I think he will deliver on that promise of last years CC. He is still very young.
26 Jul 2007, 13:51 pm
I really really hope Karemaker didn’t give up on the chance of having a professional rugby career. Still remember him as a 17-year old carving up during Craven Week. Jeez if there’s one guy who I would’ve thought would go all the way.
26 Jul 2007, 14:11 pm
3 Eddie Andrews, 2 Schalk Brits (c), 1 JD Moller.
WTF..again?
26 Jul 2007, 14:23 pm
Miskien ‘n goeie ding dat Luke nie speel nie. Kom ons kyk hoe vertoon die span sonder hom op die veld.
26 Jul 2007, 14:36 pm
Andre, hulle sal beter vertoon. Luke is useless man.
26 Jul 2007, 14:37 pm
*sigh*
we going to get a hiding
26 Jul 2007, 15:01 pm
6 Andre,
jy kannie sien hoe Wp teen die Cheaters kan verloor nie? huh? waar was jy die laaste paar jaar?
26 Jul 2007, 15:02 pm
Ek was hier , maar WP was nooit op die veld nie. En nou is hulle daar , en ek’s skaars lol
26 Jul 2007, 15:36 pm
Nommer 1 en 3 is alweer die probleem…
26 Jul 2007, 15:46 pm
Thankfully Melck only has to fill Luke’s shoes. If the headline read “Melck to fill Luke’s jersey” there might have been some problems – not too sure how much he could fetch carrying those built-in watermelons around.
26 Jul 2007, 15:49 pm
Why did Wp not train on Wednesday ? They could have Thursday off , surely the powers that be could have seen that they have limited oppertunity to train this week and that they should grab the time when they could actually train in good weather ? Thats a poor excuse.
26 Jul 2007, 15:52 pm
Melck to fill Luke’s shoes
Well, Luke is definitely too big for his boots, so perhaps they will be a better fit for Justin.
26 Jul 2007, 16:09 pm
Someone must remind Luke to pour the Melck out of his shoes when he returns…
otherwise he’ll need a snorkle to breath…???
26 Jul 2007, 16:49 pm
dont know about filling lukes shoes…he was pretty awesome last weekend.he looked great and played very aggressive rugby / lets hope for a win.
26 Jul 2007, 17:26 pm
What does Brent Russell have to do to get a start? In any position.
26 Jul 2007, 17:34 pm
26 Ali,
he must,
starttotackleandnotbesoscaredunderthehighballandnotthrowsuicidepasses for a start!
26 Jul 2007, 17:41 pm
I must admit – i am very surprised at all the comments i am reading. Everyone seems to be writing Province off.
I think it is actually going to be a damn close game.
The only 2 potential areas of weakness are:
1. The front row
2. Bolla Conradie
Other than that i think it is a pretty good side. Bekker is a great inclusion. Look for a close game – but Cheetahs to win by 6.
26 Jul 2007, 17:41 pm
If they couldn’t beat the Bulls, they’re dead meat in Bloem.
26 Jul 2007, 18:32 pm
Alicamousa, (26)
What he has to do, is exactly what he has done – get the flock out of SA. He will be joining Saracens shortly. Not soon enough, in my book.
Staal, (27)
Not sure that I share your assessment.
27 Jul 2007, 13:36 pm
afrikaanse vertaling: melk in luke se skoene?
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.