Schalk back to lead WP
19 Oct 2011
Schalk Burger will captain WP in their semi-final fixture against the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The Province skipper is one of four changes to the run-on side that faced the Pumas last weekend. Pieter Louw drops to the bench to make way for the Springbok flanker.
Lock De Kock Steenkamp takes the place of Hilton Lobberts, who drops out of the match 22 completely, while hooker Tiaan Liebenberg rotates with Deon Fourie. Outside centre Juan de Jongh also gives way for Jaque Fourie in the midfield.
‘This is one damn good team,’ WP head coach Allister Coetzee told keo.co.za. ‘I think our returning Springboks are definitely a big boost. That’s why I included them in my team last weekend, so they could ease back into our systems. It’s great to have your captain back in the starting line-up.’
There was talk of lock Rhynardt Elstadt returning for WP’s playoff games after recovering from a serious knee injury picked up during Super Rugby. However, Coetzee has revealed he’s not yet match fit.
‘Rhynardt has looked well since his return to training, but the medical team have advised me not to include him in our team. He experienced some discomfort during practice recently, so he won’t be involved at all.
‘Hilton Lobberts is fine after overcoming his shoulder injury but I’ve decided to keep Tertius Daniller on the bench as our back-up lock. His mobility gives him the edge over the locks in the WP squad. He’s also a great line-out option, shows a high level of work rate and has good distribution skills.’
WP – 15 Gio Aplon, 14 JJ Engelbrecht, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 JC Kritzinger.
Subs: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Tertius Daniller, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Conrad Jantjes.
By Gareth Duncan
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62 Comments
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20 Oct 2011, 07:49 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-50:
Should read – Kolisi
20 Oct 2011, 07:52 am
thanks JR…
that he certainly is…!
20 Oct 2011, 07:53 am
WPRFU held its annual awards evening on Wednesday night at the Kelvin Grove Club. The event, held in conjunction with Die Burger, CTC Sport and DHL, recognises club performances within the Western Province, and DHL WP professional players who have performed well in 2011.
DHL WP loose forward Nick Koster walked away with the award for “DHL WP Best Forward”, whilst JJ Engelbrecht won the “Players’ Player of the Year Award”, an award, voted for by his peers.
The award for “DHL WP Best Backline player” went to Dewaldt Duvenage who, before injury, had a remarkable season, alongside Siya Kolisi, who was awarded the “Most Promising Senior player” trophy.
With both the Province u19 and u21 teams progressing to the semifinals of their respective tournaments, there was a lot of talent to choose from in the Junior Awards categories.
Youngster Rayn Smidt took the “DHL WP u19 Best Forward” award, with teammate Kobus van Wyk chosen as the “DHL WP u19 Best Backline player” and flyhalf Dillyn Leyds as the “Most Promising u19 player”.
In the u21 category, wing Tshotsho Mbovane was the well-deserved winner of the “Best Backline player” award, with flanker Reuben Johannes rewarded for a great season by being selected as the “Best Forward”. Province fullback Heinrich Steyl scooped the award for the “Most Promising u21 player”.
Demetri Catrakilis was recognised as the “Clubs’ Player of the Year”, whilst the “Women’s Player of the Year” went to Andrea Stubbs. Varsity Cup Champions UCT, were awarded the Grand Challenge for the first time since 1992. The DHL WP Disa and WP Amateur teams collected their trophies for winning their National competitions.
Allister Coetzee, commented,” Whilst the job is not quite done yet, this season has already been a remarkable one for WP Rugby at all levels, the team and our supporters. The structures are in place through the ranks and rugby in the province is strong and healthy. Congratulations to all of the winners here tonight.”
Tobie Titus, WPRFU President, added, “Congratulations to all that have achieved here tonight. Rugby in the WP is growing from strength to strength. Investment into the structures and careful foresight and vision will ensure returns into the future.”
20 Oct 2011, 07:59 am
JackBill should be please about Dillyn Leyds as the “Most Promising u19 player…
20 Oct 2011, 08:01 am
@ufo(ufo)-54: Well spotted there by JackBill.
20 Oct 2011, 08:05 am
@ufo(ufo)-53: WP Rugby is very strong at the moment from U19 level right through to Senior Level. We just need to go one better and win something. That will be a watershed moment for WP and we can expect a golden era when that happens.
20 Oct 2011, 08:11 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-56:
yeah… on the day of the awards…? wonder if he’s in the loop (or hoop)
… but good spot like you say…
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-56:
yeah… we’re doing “okay” IMO it all counts for nought until we can start winning comps and trophies…
posted a while back that the senior WP/Stormers players had all committed to coming back and putting everything into trying to win the S15 title in 2012. although the last few days of habana and fourie had me worried my info was wrong… but glad to see they’re all back and now let’s see if they can produce the goods and go one better this year…
should be an interesting season coming up for us…
and also really existing from a bok perspective seeing who’s gonna be who in the new zoo…!!
20 Oct 2011, 08:29 am
I’m surprised that Schalk hasnt been nominated this year for the POYA, he had some blinders in RWC.
20 Oct 2011, 09:19 am
@captain fantail(captain fantail)-58: Agreed he was massive. Maybe because Boks did not make it far enough.
20 Oct 2011, 09:22 am
@ufo(ufo)-57: Yes agreed this team need to win something. Yes glad to see everyone is committed. Our team is going to be very strong next season. We should top the S.A conference again next season.
It is going to be very exciting next season. New Bok coach= new players.
20 Oct 2011, 10:46 am
will be interesting to see how the bok outside backs plays with a decent flyhalf inside them
20 Oct 2011, 21:34 pm
@ufo(ufo)-53:
Thank you very much.
The Bulls look at this and treat it as a shopping list.
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