Physical Elstadt back for Province, but Bulls get triple Bok boost
RYNHARDT ELSTADT has been declared fit to return to the Western Province team for Friday’s Currie Cup clash against the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, but the home side will also receive a major boost ahead of the north-south derby.
The Bulls will welcome back a trio of Springboks in prop Dean Greyling (suspension), hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle and wing Bjorn Basson (injuries) in a match the Pretoria team have to win to reach the semi-finals.
WP lacked a bit of fire against the Lions in a 22-9 defeat at Newlands at the weekend, so Elstadt’s physical style will be crucial against the Bulls. “You actually miss a senior player like Rynhardt, so it is nice to have him back,” coach Allister Coetzee said yesterday after practice in Bellville.
“We know that he may not Friday Pretoria: Blue Bulls v Western Province (7.10pm). Saturday Kimberley: Griquas v Lions (2pm). Bloemfontein: Free State Cheetahs v Sharks (7.15pm). necessarily play for 80 minutes, but he’s got a presence. It’s going to be a battle of attrition against the Bulls, and they did well against the Sharks. We will look at Rynhardt as a blindside flank, as Tyrone (Holmes) has been playing out of position.”
Inside centre Marcel Brache (hip) and scrumhalf Louis Schreuder (shin) didn’t train yesterday, but WP team doctor Arthur Williams said that they would be ready to play on Friday. Gio Aplon is in the second week of rehabilitation from his ankle injury and Williams said that he could be back for next week’s Cheetahs game at Newlands.
The Bulls lost 13-12 to the Sharks last Friday, which pushed them to the bottom of the log. The Pretoria outfit are a point behind Griquas and three off the fourth-placed Cheetahs. “They are definitely a desperate side. They are a proud union and being down on the log is unfamiliar territory for them,” Coetzee said.
“It could probably be the game of the season for them. Bringing those guys back (Greyling, Ralepelle and Basson) just shows how seriously they are taking the game.”