Jano gets first start as WP make six changes

THE Pumas will not be tamed by a halfhearted effort in a 60-minute performance at Newlands tomorrow afternoon (kickoff 3pm).

This was the message from Western Province coach John Dobson as the defending champions prepare to host a Mpumalanga side prowling for the chance to pounce straight back into Currie Cup play-off contention by feasting on sluggish prey.

“To me, that’s the threat about this game,” Dobson said yesterday. “It was easy (to get up for the game) against the Bulls, because we had massive issues up at Loftus Versfeld (in round three), so we were desperate last week.

“But the Pumas aren’t as sexy a brand, and making sure that our reaction to clean and our attitude around the breakdown is the same this week as it was last week is the challenge.

“Standing up against the Bulls at Newlands on a Friday night in front of a nice crowd is one thing, but against these guys the next Saturday is a much bigger test for us.”

What has made that test even more demanding for Province is the withdrawal of six stalwarts.

Steven Kitshoff (chest) and Rynhardt Elstadt (quad) failed late fitness tests, while Cheslin Kolbe (ankle) and Scarra Ntubeni (calf) were ruled out earlier in the week, and Nic Groom and Jean Kleyn have been relegated to the bench in rotational changes.

In the back row, Nizaam Carr has been restored to the No 8 jersey and the captaincy, with Sikhumbuzo Notshe switching to the blindside berth and Jurie van Vuuren seated amongst the replacements.

Kleyn was “red-flagged” by the medical staff as a player who should not be asked to start, and Jan de Klerk will consequently make his starting debut for WP.

Journeyman scrumhalf Jano Vermaak, pictured above, will achieve the same milestone in place of Groom, while Dillyn Leyds moves to fullback and Kobus van Wyk is promoted to the wing vacancy.

Tighthead prop Vincent Koch will reportedly make his 50th appearance for the Pumas tomorrow, and the scrum duel between him and fellow Stormers prop Kitshoff was shaping up to be a key feature of the match.

Though this showdown will not materialise, Kitshoff ’s replacement, Oli Kebble is itching to get stuck into Koch.

“That’s going to be a great battle,” said Dobson. “Oli and Vincent will both be on the (Stormers) roster here next year, so they’ll be going hammer and tongs. I know Oli is very keen...”

The WP coach was just as eager to see De Klerk in action in the No 4 jersey that Kleyn has worn so well in this season.

“Jan and Jean are very similar players, they’re big body-movers, good defensively. Jan has an incredible training and work ethic, he’s a youngster with a bright future but, in the same breath, Jean Kleyn has done amazingly well and Jan has big, big shoes to fill.”

Elstadt’s absence for a second successive match has again disarmed the WP pack of their most brutal combatant, and the decision to shift Kleyn, a malevolent close second to Elstadt, is, at face value, quite puzzling.

“When the Pumas have been beaten well this year, it was once by Griquas and once by the Lions,” added Dobson. “Both times the work was done up front.

“The Lions didn’t run them off their feet, they took their pack on and that’s what we have to do, and that’s part of the Jean Kleyn thinking – bringing a monster like that on with 30 minutes to go will make a big difference to the game.

“We can really put these guys away in the last 20, but we have to be in charge and make them realise that time is running out for them.

“If we have scoreboard pressure and we’re leading going into the last quarter, we’ll run away with it, so we’re not going to try and play more rugby because it’s the Pumas at Newlands.

“We know they’ll be in the fight going into the second half, and we just have to be ruthless.”