Du Preez goes for his ‘aggressive’ sons

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 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 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 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.