Coleman ready to strike for WP
KURT COLEMAN was at flyhalf for the Stormers in preseason, but a poor goal-kicking display saw him left out when Super Rugby started.
But the 23-year-old pivot has gone back to the Western Province Vodacom Cup side, worked on his shortcomings, and feels confident ahead of tomorrow’s semi-final against the Golden Lions at Ellis Park.
“I am striking it very nicely at the moment. I’ve been working with Louis Koen (Springbok kicking coach) for the past week, and that has really helped me a lot,” Coleman told the Cape Times yesterday.
“He just got into my head a bit. I think it was just the confidence. When I played for the Stormers, I had quite a bad kicking performance in a warm-up game, and then my confidence was just totally gone.”
Coleman was unlucky to lose out to Gary van Aswegen for a Stormers spot due to injuries to Peter Grant and Elton Jantjies, but he is not worried about Super Rugby right now.
“I feel at the moment, it’s all about Vodacom Cup, because the only way I can get back into the Stormers team is through good performances for WP.”
Coleman will be partnered by scrumhalf Bolla Conradie, who returns from a calf injury.
But WP coach John Dobson wasn’t able to call on star fullback Cheslin Kolbe, as well as hooker Mike Willemse and prop Sti Sithole, who are all in camp with the SA Under-20 side for their friendly against Namibia tomorrow in Stellenbosch.
Captain Marcel Brache (quad) and Rohan Kitshoff (ineligible) also can’t play. “I would be panicking if it wasn’t for the fact that we can replace Cheslin with a guy like Timmy Swiel. They are very similar players in lots of ways, and are both great steppers and attackers,” Dobson said.
“I think Kurt is playing better than he has all season, his kicking is much better. Berton Klaasen has come into his own; Kobus van Wyk has made a massive difference every time he comes on. If the forwards can just win our ball, then we will be fine. It would be quite an achievement, but we can do it!” TEAMS FOR SEMI-FINAL Golden Lions: 15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Ruan Dreyer. 16 Francois du Toit, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 JJ Breedt, 19 Willie Britz, 20 Ross Cronjé, 21 Lionel Cronjé, 22 Dylan des Fountain. Western Province: 15 Tim Swiel, 14 Pat Howard, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Mike van der Spuy, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Bolla Conradie (captain), 8 Rayn Smid, 7 Graham Knoop, 6 Helmut Lehmann, 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 4 Gerbrandt Grobler, 3 Chris Heiberg, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 1 Ashley Wells.
16 Jody Reyneke, 17 Tjoppie Ferreira, 18 Taz Fuzani, 19 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 20 Godlen Masimla, 21 Kobus van Wyk, 22 Dillyn Leyds. Referee: Marius Jonker. Kickoff: 2.15pm. TV: Live on SS1/SS HD1.