Why Jantjies is not in WP squad for Lions match
It was not poor form that cost Herschel Jantjies his place in the Western Province squad for this week s clash against the Golden
’
Lions at Ellis Park. Western Province according
‚
to their coach John Dobson are
‚
in fact rotating players in a selection move that had been planned two weeks back.
We have three really similar scrumhalves in Herschel [Jantjies] Godlen [Masimla] and Paul
‚
[de Wet]‚” Dobson said in a virtual media briefing. I am acutely
“
aware we haven t been giving
’
enough rugby to the latter two
‚”
said Dobson.
It had been speculated that Jantjies absence was due to a
’
loss of form and that changes needed to be made in the aftermath of Western Province s loss
’
to the Blue Bulls at Newlands last Saturday.
While Jantjies may not have set the world on fire with his form this year he remains a
‚
potent weapon in the Western Province armoury.
Dobson explained how he will be rotating players over the next week or so.
Paul and Herschel will play
“
next week [against the Pumas at Newlands]. This rotation was result-agnostic. We couldn t go
’
back on it just because we didn t
’
get the result we wanted against the Bulls.”
A cause for almost as much debate was Dobson s decision to
’
move Damian Willemse to fullback and elevate Tim Swiel from the bench to flyhalf. Warrick [ Gelant] won t be
“’
back for a long time [six to nine months] so Tim has an opportu
‚
nity to have a run at No 10 for a while. The injury to Warrick is a blow to us. He will be sidelined for about six months, maybe a big longer. The next fullback in the group is Tristan Leyds. He is still in a development phase.”
Willemse has copped flak for his performances at flyhalf this season but Dobson stuck by the player who showed better form towards the tail end of Super Rugby Unlocked. Moving him to fullback is somewhat of a disruption to that process, but that s
’
where the team now needs him. Damian has played Test rug
“
by at No 15. It is not new for him. Tim Swiel has done really well when he has come on for us. He is a really good game manager.”
Dobson also made changes in the centres where Ruhan Nel now partners Dan du Plessis. Ruhan Nel has been our top
“
No 13 and coming back from a long-term injury. He came off the bench [against the Blue Bulls] and this week he starts.
Dan du Plessis and Rikus
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Pretorius took knocks last week. Rikus is the more bruised of the two and we will rotate those guys over the next two weeks explained Dobson.