Dillyn, Damian to see home action for WP?
EARLIER this week, following their defeat to the Pumas at the weekend, Western Province coach John Dobson said that all four of their remaining matches are “must-wins”.
Province have gotten themselves into a few tough spots this Currie Cup season with four losses in eight matches, and now the fourth-placed Province, who suffered a 44-34 defeat to bottom-ofthe-log Griquas the last time they met in Kimberley, will need to get a couple of vital selections right if they want to boost their chances of having a shot at securing a home semi-final.
Those selections are at fullback and in midfield, as Province have been boosted by the availability of Springbok backs Damian de Allende and Dillyn Leyds and tighthead prop Wilco Louw for the home game.
And these are selections that Dobson certainly sees as a positive, as the WP mentor on Monday described the situation as an “amazing selection quandary”. And Dobson wasn’t exaggerating. In the last couple of weeks, the only major selection dilemma the Province coach has faced has been choosing his run-on flyhalf – Damian Willemse or Robert du Preez.
But even that wasn’t really a dilemma, as Dobson has made no secret of the union’s plan to back the “future of WP Rugby” – Willemse.
And since Du Preez returned from injury, Dobson has continued to give Willemse the starting nod, while Du Preez has racked up some game time off the bench.
But with Leyds and De Allende (as well as tighthead prop Wilco Louw) being three of seven players released from the Bok squad for the weekend’s Currie Cup action, there are a few real puzzles as Province have a few options in crucial positions for their match against Griquas.
So, with a lot hanging on this match as the race to the playoffs shifts into fifth gear, where will WP’s Boks fit in?
The versatile Leyds is a no-brainer at fullback as he has been in scintillating form, both on the wing and at No 15, this season. But Craig Barry’s stunning Currie Cup debut against the Free State Cheetahs two weeks ago – along with his SuperSport Challenge form – have shown that he can become a WP regular should he be able to sidestep the regular injuries that have bugged him for a couple of years. Also, Barry getting significant game time on Saturday might not be a bad idea seeing that he is likely to feature at the back against the Blue Bulls and the Golden Lions in the absence of Leyds, who was yesterday included in the Bok squad for the home Tests against Australia and New Zealand, and the injured SP Marais. Also, that continuity will be good for Province. But then again, if you want to follow the national-side-comesfirst approach, Leyds also needs the game time (whether it’s on the wing or at fullback) as he has received precious little of that in the green-and-gold jersey. Perhaps a start for Barry and a solid, early secondhalf stint for Leyds?
The same can be said about De Allende, who rides in the same next-to-nothing Springbok game-time boat as Leyds.
In midfield, Huw Jones has been superb at inside centre, and the skilful strike-runner – and outside centre who’s had to stand in at No 12 due to WP’s injuries – has been featuring alongside No 13 EW Viljoen. And although De Allende’s availability opens up a number of possible midfield combinations, the pure pace of Jones and his ability to spark attack will be needed this weekend. So WP continuing with their current midfield pairing and bringing De Allende on in the second 40 might be a decent selection.
Up front, Louw can add to WP’s scrummaging in a starting berth, while young prop Michael Kumbirai could add grit from the bench. GARTH APRIL is 26 now but as baby-faced as ever and with his growing hair, older fans will see the likeness of a young Michael Jackson but his Sharks teammates prefer to give him the nickname ‘Bruno Mars’ on account of his hairstyle.
Perhaps what he best has in common with the pop stars are his twinkle toes, that have been more evident than ever this season in the longest run he has had in a Sharks jersey – both in the Super Rugby and Currie Cup – at fullback and flyhalf.
He was suspended for one match because he reportedly missed a team commitment during their bye week, but otherwise this has been a good season for the young man from the Western Cape.
April is from Wellington and attended Paarl Gym until grade 11 before moving to Hoerskool Florida in Roodepoort, Johannesburg.
Something of a wanderer since finishing school, April has played Vodacom Cup rugby for the Lions, Boland and Western Province before his big break in 2015 when he was contracted by the Sharks.
In 2017, he has had plenty of game time compared to a lean 2016.
“This year I have really enjoyed myself, a part from a short injury one game into the season.
“I have played quite a few games in a row now, by far the most for me for many a year,” April says.
He smiles when asked a question he has heard more than a few times. Which position does he prefer? Flyhalf or fullback?
“I prefer to play at (No) 10 because you get the ball in hand more often but I also I enjoy the time and space you get at 15,” April says. “And these are exciting times to be in the backline at the Sharks because our forwards are giving us really good ball. We just want to score tries.
“I also think that a whole season of focussing on our skill levels in training have produced results, although there is still plenty of room for our error rate to decrease.”
The Sharks came together nicely against Griquas in a tricky match in Kimberley last week, and April said the goal now was to ensure that they do not take a step back and rather improve a little each week in the run-in to the semi-finals, starting this week against the Blue Bulls.