Du Preez goes for his ‘aggressive’ sons
WILLEMSE: WESTERN PROVINCE MOVE PIVOT TO MIDFIELD FOR CUP FINAL
Currie Cup finals are almost always rip-roaring affairs, but Sharks coach Robert du Preez is clearly expecting a ferocious encounter against Western Province in the season finale at Newlands tomorrow, judging by the loose trio he named yesterday.
Du Preez has reunited both his twin sons, Daniel and Jean-Luc, among the loose-forwards, with both of them aggressive figures on the gain-line.
But instead of keeping a more traditional ball-foraging openside flank in Jacques Vermeulen, the Sharks mentor has shifted Tyler Paul, who has successfully played both lock and blindside flank this year, to the No 6 jersey, giving the
It was so tough for Western Province coach John Dobson to choose between Damian Willemse and Josh Stander for their side’s crucial clash this week that he decided to pick both.
Willemse was surprisingly named yesterday at inside centre for tomorrow’s Currie Cup final at Newlands, replacing Dan Kriel, while Stander was set to return to the side at flyhalf, with the former visitors another hugely physical ball-carrier and formidable defender.
“Tyler has had an unbelievable season and played some great rugby, and it’s wonderful to have him in the team. He does all the unseen hard work. It’s also great to have J-L back in the starting mix, we know it’s going to be an abrasive battle down in Cape Town, which is why we’ve made this selection. We know what we have in Jacques and Luke Stringer, and they will definitely make a difference when they come on off the bench,” Du Preez senior said yesterday.
While the game will first and foremost be won up front, Du Preez has been forced into making one change in his backline, with Springbok wing Lwazi Mvovo Bulls player having been tactically superb throughout the competition with his sound kicking game.
Dobson, who included eight Springboks in his match 23, also decided to tweak the scrumhalf and No 8 positions, with veteran Jano Vermaak returning in the place of Herschel Jantjies, while Springbok loose forward Silhumbuzo Notshe replaced Juarno Augustus at the back of the scrum.
Having hinted after last week’s tense extra-time semifinal win over the Blue Bulls that in some areas he might have got the selections wrong, Dobson said his team wanted to make the most of the opportunity.
“There has been a lot of hard work to get to this point, with not yet fit to play after concussion. Aphelele Fassi, probably now rated the fastest rugby player in the land after his spectacular chase-down from behind of Golden Lions wing Aphiwe Dyantyi last weekend, and certainly one of the finds of the season, will get to start in his first Currie Cup final.
Kobus van Wyk comes on to the bench and joins flyhalf Robert du Preez, captain Louis Schreuder and replacements Stringer and Leolin Zas as players who started their senior careers in Cape Town and are now trying to beat Western Province to the ultimate domestic trophy.
Schreuder played for Western Province in the last final between the teams at Newlands, in 2013.
“I don’t have fond memories because we arrived at the 2013 final many different people making important contributions,” Dobson said. “There is nothing like a Currie Cup final at Newlands, so it is something we would like to embrace and make the most of in front of the faithful supporters.”
While Vermaak was an experienced campaigner, having previously turned out for the Boks, the Lions and the Bulls, he had just come back from a thumb injury.
Willemse, meanwhile, was groomed at both flyhalf and fullback, and he hadn’t played at inside centre since his junior days, so he was set to be tested against the likes of Sharks centre Marius Louw.
The unbeaten Province outfit were preparing to host the cup final for the first time since 2014, unbeaten and then lost 33-19 to the Sharks. They were Western Province’s bogey team back then and hopefully that is still the case come Saturday,” Schreuder said. when they beat the Golden Lions 19-16, though they had been in the trophy battle five times in the last six years.
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