Nemo and Wazza get set for back-row battle

Lions are beatable, not ‘World Cup winners’, says WP skipper Carr

FRIDAY night’s main event, a Currie Cup bout between defending champions Western Province and the unbeaten, log-leading Lions at Ellis Park (kick-off 6pm), will feature an engaging back-row duel between Nizaam Carr and Warren Whiteley.

“It’s going to be personal between me and Wazza,” said the WP No 8 who led his teammates to a 50-19 win against the Pumas on Saturday. “The pressure will be there, I’m already feeling nervous for the game.”

Like Carr, pictured, Whiteley is an athletic loose forward who combines mobility and handling skills to add a support-play dynamic to his team’s attack.

Both players attended Springbok workshops in June but, while Whiteley was included in the Rugby Championship squad, Carr did not make the cut.

“He’s a really great player and a good linking man, and he’s a great guy off the field,” said Carr. “He ticks all the boxes, so to beat Wazza on Friday night will be something huge, and if I can come out tops it will be great.

“It’s always been between me and Wazza for (Springbok) selections. He got the nod (in the Rugby Championship) so that’s been a bit hard on me, but come Friday night... I don’t want to talk too much...”

Carr is hoping that the imminent return of Juan de Jongh will reduce his talking role to a bare minimum. The veteran centre has recovered from a long-term knee injury and is cleared to participate in at least one half of this week’s crunch match.

“With Juan back, that will be a huge plus for us and make my job easier,” he said. “Being the captain, you have to care about other things on the field, whereas if you’re just a number you can concentrate 60 percent more on your own game – if you’re the leader, you have to constantly worry about the lineouts, handle the referee, do the pre-match talk with the team, get the message out there on the field in less than 30 seconds.”

“Medically, Juan’s got 40 minutes in him, I’ve just got to decide which 40 that is,” said WP coach John Dobson.

“I said that I wasn’t going to start him, but I’m re-thinking that just because of what he brings to the group in terms of leadership. Juan is unquestionably the leader of this team, everyone looks up to him as a person and player, so it may be worth starting him. For the team it’s a massive boost, and knowing he’s going to be there for the play-offs is big.

“I’ll see whether Juan is comfortable with No 12, but if he prefers 13 then I’m happy with that because I’m happy we’ve got Huw Jones or Johnny Kotze to take us home at the sharp end of that game.”

It was Dobson’s sharp tongue that jolted Province into action against the Pumas at Newlands after the hosts headed off for halftime trailing 19-15.

“Dobbo’s speech at half-time... I was one of the guys who got scared for that talk,” said Carr. “Dobbo called everyone in and he screamed at us. Everyone reacted well to it and the message that he sent to us was spot on. It was just a lack of attitude from us in the first half, which is not up to our standard.”

Beating the perfect Lions at Ellis Park would not only underline Province’s title credentials, it would also dramatically improve their chances of finishing in the top two and thus securing a home semi-final.

“This game against the Lions is a big game, but a lot of people are putting them out there to be a World Cup-winning team,” he said. “Just walking in the street people are asking, ‘Hey, have you seen the Lions play?’. I think they are beatable. – Zelim Nel