WESTERN Province will look to get their Currie Cup campaign up and running – in drier conditions – against the defending champions Cheetahs in Bloemfontein this afternoon.
After swapping the wet Cape for the Free State, WP will look to go back to their traditional running game plan, which they could not use last weekend against the Bulls at a wet and muddy DHL Stadium during the first round.
Things won’t get any easier on the field though, as they face the hosts who easily beat the Griffons 82-20 last weekend in the opening round. Free State played an excellent game of running and forwards rugby, scoring 12 tries in the process, and Province can expect to be pelted by them on the attack.
The experience, especially among the pack of forwards, could be the difference in the Toyota Stadium this afternoon (kick-off 1:55 pm), but the visitors will look to set their backs away if the conditions allow it.
Although they did not get fringe Springboks to join them for this clash, they will want to show they can do the job without any reinforcements. Another loss so early in the tournament, especially against the other top side in their Currie Cup pool, could be bad for their chances of reaching the play-offs later this season.
John Dobson, director of rugby, said he expects a sharper performance in very different conditions to that of last weekend.
“We were disappointed with aspects of our game last week, but it should be quite a lot drier in Bloemfontein,” he said
“It will definitely suit our game and we will be better off with that match under our belts as there was no ‘pre-season’ for this group heading into the competition.
“We have kept continuity in selection and are excited to see what the likes of Hendre (Stassen) and Paul (de Villiers) can add from the start, while it is also great to have a player of Andre-Hugo’s (Venter) quality in the mix as well.”
Venter, although a hooker, will cover loose forward off the bench with Bok Scarra Ntubeni, the other number two replacement, as JJ Kotze starts in the middle of the scrum.
The exciting scrumhalf Labib Kannemeyer and utility back Damian Markus are the backs on the bench, with Dobson opting for a six-two split in favour of the forwards.
“We know that it will take a much-improved performance to get the result we are looking for, but it has been a constructive week and we have confidence in our plan so we should be in for an entertaining match against the Cheetahs.”
*Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon in Kimberley, a late penalty conversion by flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela secured the first victory for Griquas in the tournament.
They scored some brilliant running tries in the second half with an amazing comeback to beat a Bok-laden Sharks side 34-31 after the visitors took the lead in the first half.
Western Province: 15 Luke Burger, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Hendre Stassen, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Andre-Hugo Venter, 20 CJ Velleman, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Labib Kannemeyer, 23 Damian Markus.
Cheetahs: 15 Litha Nkula, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Daniel Kasende, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Aidon Davis, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Carl Wegner, 20 Oupa Mohoje, 21 Neels Volschenk, 22 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 23 Reinhardt Fortuin.