Western Province beat the Blue Bulls in both league games this season, and that is why coach Allister Coetzee says that his team won’t be changing their attacking gameplan for a more conservative one in Saturday’s Currie Cup semi-final at Newlands.
In fact, since Coetzee took over the WP Currie Cup team in 2008, they have lost only once to the Bulls at Newlands, although it was a big one – the 2009 semi-final, when Morné Steyn slotted a late penalty for a 21-19 win.
While the Bulls are traditionally a team that use a big kicking game and their forwards in a grinding, attritional style of play, Coetzee said that it doesn’t mean Province will be lured into such a battle.
And the main reason for that is that strike weapons Cheslin Kolbe and Seabelo Senatla are all set to return from injury and Springbok Sevens duty respectively.
But it is believed that utility back Justin Geduld suffered a broken nose while playing for the Sevens Boks in Australia at the weekend, so he won’t be fit.
Young lock Jean Kleyn is also likely to be back from his shoulder problem, while Coetzee may spring a further surprise at lock. The coach said that his first-choice fullback and No 4 lock have made significant progress with their rehabilitation.
“Cheslin already started training with us last week, and he is looking good. I didn’t see what happened in the Sevens, but Senatla scored three tries and will also be back in the mix. So luckily both those players played in the two Bulls games in the league phases,” Coetzee said after the past Saturday’s 28-20 defeat to the Sharks.
“Jean Kleyn has been training with us as well, so there’s also positive news there.”
Asked if Province will look to kick more due to the Bulls’ playing style and because playoff games tend to be tight encounters, Coetzee said: “No, we will change very little of what has worked for us the whole season. I think that’s actually where you make the mistake – if you want to become too conservative.
“We always strive for a good balance, and what has worked for us in broken play, we will keep on doing that. We know that it is about first-phase possession, and that’s where the challenge will come from, in the scrums and lineouts. And of course the kicking game as well, we have to be prepared for that.
“The Bulls are normally a very tough opponent in playoff matches. And they’ve got experience in Handré Pollard, a general at 10, who will come to Newlands. But for us, it doesn’t matter who we are playing against. It’s about being back at Newlands and playing in a semi-final. But we want to go two steps further – making the final and going all the way.”
Coetzee admitted that he has a “few big calls” to make at lock. Gerbrandt Grobler came through his return from a long-term shoulder injury to add his name to the mix along with Kleyn, Manuel Carizza and Rynhardt Elstadt.
But the Cape Times understands that Coetzee is seriously considering bulking up the WP pack to deal with the physical Bulls unit by utilising Michael Rhodes at No 5 lock. Rhodes was a success in the second row for the Stormers this year when injuries sidelined a number of locks, and the former Lions star has been a superb in the Currie Cup at blindside flank too.
Coetzee revealed that he was considering picking Elstadt at No 7 instead of lock due to Kleyn’s return, so having Rhodes at No 5 and Elstadt at flank would be a clever plan to counter giant Bulls such as lock Paul Willemse and Jacques du Plessis at blindside flank.
Carizza would normally slot in at No 5 and call the lineouts, but he probably lacks that hard edge physically to withhold the Bulls onslaught.
After being a bit off the pace against the Cheetahs last week in his return from suspension, Elstadt was back to his robust best against the Sharks when carrying the ball and in defence. “Jean Kleyn has been playing really well this year, and you know that you’ve got to front up physically against the Bulls,” Coetzee said.
“So you might just use a player like Rynhardt as a loose forward in combination with (Nizaam) Carr, Michael Rhodes and (Sikhumbuzo) Notshe (on the bench), if you look at a bit of bulk. And guys that can play with the ball like Nizaam Carr and Notshe, it’s also an option to go with that.”
Another scenario could see Elstadt and Rhodes in the loose trio alongside Carr, with Kleyn and Carizza at lock, but that would be unfair on Sikhumbuzo Notshe, who has excelled in an unfamiliar openside flank position.
Notshe got a chance at his preferred No 8 spot against the Sharks and was terrific, bringing the same attributes to the side that Carr does with his speed and skill, leading to Coetzee saying he was a “revelation”.
Coetzee stated that players pushing for semi-final starting spots are Elstadt, Grobler, Oli Kebble and Kurt Coleman. Of that group, Coleman would be a better choice at No 10 than Demetri Catrakilis to take on Bok flyhalf Handré Pollard.
Coleman won his personal duel with Pollard during the Super Rugby clash in July in a 16-0 Stormers victory, and showed some neat touches in general play against the Sharks, while he attacked the advantage line with vigour as well. Coleman also scored a try and recorded a 100% goal-kicking performance (four out of four).
But despite having greater variety and a stronger defence, Coleman is unlikely to get the nod from Coetzee as the coach regards Catrakilis as WP’s No 1 flyhalf at the moment. - Cape Times