Cape Town - Retaining the Currie Cup will give a young Western Province squad the impetus needed to charge into the 2016 Super Rugby season with confidence, according to flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis.
“Winning the Currie Cup is a huge deal, there’s a lot of tradition behind it,” said the Montpellier-bound, goal-kicking ace. “I haven’t experienced anything in rugby like winning that trophy.”
Catrakilis was in the blue-and-white striped No 10 jersey when WP ambushed the Sharks in the 2012 final, and his sniper-like accuracy in last year’s decider proved to be the difference in a 19-16 win against the Golden Lions at Newlands.
“It will be huge for Western Province to win it this year with a new coaching staff, but it might be even bigger in terms of the squad’s confidence for Super Rugby next year,” he said. “I know what’s it’s like coming off a Currie Cup win going into Super Rugby – you’re a lot more sure of yourself.
“In the same breath, it is a new coaching staff and it is a very young team and if they don’t win the Currie Cup, they just need to put it down to experience because there’s probably another five years for this young group to win a title.”
After belatedly being granted a release by Province, Catrakilis is set to jet off to the south of France next week on a contract that could keep him in the Top 14 until the middle of 2018.
His 20-minute performance off the bench during last week’s 50-19 win against the Pumas was his last, and the 25-year-old was humbled by a poignant post-match farewell in the Newlands changeroom.
“I wasn’t really expecting anything after the game, but when I walked into the changeroom, (director of rugby) Gert Smal, (CEO) Rob Wagner and (team manager) Chippie Solomon were there and they had a few words to say.
“I was standing opposite Nic Groom and I could see he was starting to tear up. Before I knew it, he was hiding behind Nizaam Carr because he couldn’t take it anymore!
“It was emotional for me because I spent five years with these guys and I shared moments with them that the public doesn’t get to see, and which I don’t get to share with my family. It is emotional leaving those guys, and also leaving the jersey and the amazing fans.
“I tried to stay composed, but it was hard at the end. I have always been tight with my teammates, it felt like the players were my best friends and it was hard to leave some of the younger guys that I’ve been trying to help come into the set-up this year because it felt like I was leaving my younger brothers behind.”
One of those youngsters is Robert du Preez who, along with Kurt Coleman, Jean-Luc du Plessis and Ryno Eksteen will be hopeful of succeeding Catrakilis as the Stormers flyhalf next year.
“We haven’t seen much of Robbie yet, but in training he looks really good,” Catrakilis said. “He has lots of potential and, even though he’s still young and he has basics to work on, he’s a quality player. I don’t think it would take too much work for him to become a world-class player.
“And everyone knows what Kurt can offer, he’s a great attacker, brings a lot of flair to the backline and has a pretty decent kicking game, and it would be nice to see him play with the confidence of good backing from the new Super Rugby coach.”
Eddie Jones masterminded Japan’s historic win against the Springboks at this year’s Rugby World Cup and is renowned for applying creative thought to building the attack. Catrakilis is excited about what Jones offers as Stormers head coach.
“Western Province has always had a really good defensive plan and they should never ever go away from that,” he said. “That’s the heart of any winning team, and if they can be strong on defence, and combine the amount of natural talent they have on attack with what Eddie Jones brings, hopefully it sparks something special.
“If Eddie can get the balance right, and if he does his job the way he’s been doing it at Japan, the Stormers will be a force to be reckoned with.
“I think they’ll make the semi-finals.”
Weekend Argus