Lock Etzebeth back in squad
LOCK Eben Etzebeth will take the field for the first time in nine months when he starts for Western Province in a Currie Cup encounter against the Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
Etzebeth, 22, last played for the Springboks against France in Paris last November where he sustained a foot injury that has kept him out of the game until now.
Although the bruising second-rower was named in the Bok squad on Saturday he, along with prop Frans Malherbe, has been released for the opening weekend of Currie Cup action. The need for them to put miles on the clock before the Boks meet Argentina next weekend led to the decision.
Malherbe, who has not played for three months due to concussion, was named on the WP bench against the Kings. WP coach Allister Coetzee said Etzebeth would only be involved for part of the match – probably only the first half – while Malherbe will come off the bench some time in the second half, injuries permitting.
In all, eight of the 22- man WP squad for the clash will be making their Currie Cup debuts against EP, although wings Kobus van Wyk and Seabelo Senatla, lock Manuel Carizza, and prop Alistair Vermaak have played Super Rugby for the Stormers.
“Fortunately for us, Eben and Frans have been part of our pre-season training,” Coetzee said. “Eben would have played a Super Rugby match if he hadn’t broken his toe in an accident at home.
“The decision to play them was taken in consultation between both the WP and the Springbok medical teams. The decision was that it would benefit everyone because neither of them has played a match in months.” Western Province team: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Alistair Vermaak. Replacements: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Jean Kleyn, 19 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Robert du Preez, 22 Pat Howard.