Cape Town - Blitzbokke star Werner Kok will provide Western Province with a bit of steel out wide in Saturday’s must-win Currie Cup clash against Eastern Province in Port Elizabeth.
Kok has been named at right wing to make his debut for the Streeptruie in place of Kobus van Wyk, who has joined Bordeaux in France.
WP coach John Dobson said at the team announcement at Newlands on Thursday that Kok’s ability at the breakdown could be valuable against the tough-tackling Kings outfit.
He will be joined by Dan du Plessis, who returns from injury, at inside centre alongside Huw Jones at No 13 in what promises to be an exciting midfield combination, with strike-runner Cheslin Kolbe back at No 15 after playing off the bench last week against the Cheetahs.
But for the backline to function fully, they need halfbacks Jano Vermaak and Brandon Thomson to fire at full tilt. “We haven’t dominated as we would’ve wanted to at halfback,” Dobson said. “Communication (is an issue). But if we change the flyhalf every week, we won’t win the Currie Cup, so we will have another look at Thommo.
“I’ve still got an open mind about it at the moment. Our big issue is that they are youngsters - Thommo, Dan is (like) a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle… He doesn’t speak a lot! Thommo is also (quiet).
“Although he was much maligned, Jaco Taute could communicate, and Chessie is also not loud. That’s where Huw is going to be important and need to step up. It’s something we chatted to Chessie about - we need to hear him. That’s probably the next stage in his development.
“Chessie is brilliant at the moment, amazing. He’s sharp, confident, keen, professional, enthusiastic.”
While JD Schickerling is back from illness, Dobson has opted to try out Maties No 8 Kobus van Dyk at openside flank. The coach cited the lack of No 6 flanks within the union, and said that even though Van Dyk is 1.96m, he can do a job on the side of the scrum.
“Rynhardt (Elstadt) did his ankle on Monday in training and will be back next week. The six position is a challenge at this union, and the way we attack at the moment, eight and six jobs are more similar than seven, so he will adapt.
“He must just get to that first breakdown off the scrum, and he is one of the fastest guys in the team and has a massive work-rate. He just doesn’t look like a six because he is so tall, but he has been outstanding in the first two games. Before Rynhardt got injured, we were debating whether to move him there because of that.”
There are five forwards on the bench for an expected forward onslaught from the Kings, while reserve backs Godlen Masimla and Robert du Preez can both play in a few positions.
Western Province Team
15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Daniel du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Brandon Thomson, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Jurie van Vuuren, 6 Kobus van Dyk, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Bench:16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Oli Kebble, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Stefan Willemse, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Robert du Preez.
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