Loss of Kitshoff a huge blow to WP
Western Province have been dealt a hammer blow ahead of their Currie Cup semifinal against the Sharks at Newlands on Saturday.
Covid-19 protocols will preclude influential loose head and stand-in captain Steven Kitshoff from taking his place in the front row.
His absence due to contact with a suspected positive coronavirus case will come as a huge setback for the team hoping to build on their burgeoning reputation as the competition’s foremost scrummagers.
Without Kitshoff‚ the competition’s standout loose head‚ that claim will be hotly disputed by the Sharks who will now fancy their chances of getting a foothold in the scrums.
The captaincy reverts to Siya Kolisi‚ who had missed the previous two matches due to Covid-19 protocols. Kolisi returns to a back row that also includes Juarno Augustus and Johan du Toit.
Lock Salmaan Moerat is also back in the team‚ while loosehead prop Ali Vermaak has the task of filling the boots vacated by Kitshoff.
The backline that did duty in WP’s victory against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein three weeks ago remains unchanged. Head coach John Dobson said his team was intent on making the most of every minute in what could be their farewell match at Newlands.
“We have earned the right to play this semifinal at Newlands. We want to deliver a fitting performance on Saturday.
“We have had time to prepare properly and we are fielding a number of settled combinations‚ so the challenge is to go out there and put together an 80minute performance and secure our place in the final next week‚” he said.
The challenge for Western Province and the Sharks will be to hit the deck running in the semifinal on Saturday.
Both sides have not seen any action since their matches against the Cheetahs and Griquas at the beginning of January.
A pragmatic approach to curbing the spread of the virus has also seen Western Province reduce their time on the training field this week.