Godlen Masimla could bring some much-needed X-factor on attack and defence for Western Province in Saturday’s must-win Currie Cup clash against the Pumas at Newlands.
Scrumhalf Masimla has benefited from a hip pointer injury to Jano Vermaak and will make his first start of this year’s competition.
The 24-year-old has been hampered by a few bouts of concussion at different stages of the season, but has had to wait patiently on the sidelines for his opportunity in the Currie Cup as Vermaak and Dewaldt Duvenage have been preferred by coach John Dobson.
But with Vermaak out for a few weeks, Dobson has provided Masimla with a lifeline to prove his worth at the Cape union – not only to try and help save a floundering Currie Cup campaign, but also to show director of rugby Gert Smal and Stormers coach Robbie Fleck that he should be in the Super Rugby mix next year.
“Godlen brings X-factor, he’s got a great break, he’s good off nine and is one of the best defensive scrumhalves that we’ve got. He really understands the system, and we’ve worked quite hard on him this week to just stay down when he’s passing and clearing faster, which is probably why he’s missed out to the other scrumhalves over the last little while,” Dobson said after practice at Newlands on Thursday.
“But we always said that we wanted to give Godlen an opportunity in this Currie Cup, so we’ll see.”
While Vermaak is the latest player to be added to the injured list, WP do welcome back classy centre Huw Jones from a hamstring injury after he sat out the Sharks and Lions games, and he will run out at inside centre, with EW Viljoen shifting to No 13.
Jones’s ability to step past his opponents, as well as his straight-line speed, will give Province a new dimension on attack as they chase four tries to win with a bonus point in order to remain in the semi-final race.
As expected, Springbok loose forward Nizaam Carr returns from his shoulder injury and will fill in at openside flank, with Kobus van Dyk at No 8. They will be joined by former EP Kings basher Stefan Willemse at blindside, while Alistair Vermaak starts in place of JC Janse van Rensburg at loosehead prop.
“We were happy with Stefan against the Sharks, his physicality – without Rynhardt (Elstadt, out with concussion), we need one of those loose forwards who is a good physical presence. He played the last time when Rynhardt was out,” Dobson said.
“And Nizaam is coming back, so the loose trio is a more balanced one than any we’ve had all season.”
WP are currently sixth on the Currie Cup log and will hope to get their game together after the 58-32 thrashing at the hands of the Lions last week.
But while the Pumas have lost all four of their games this season, they have a competitive pack who can make life tough for WP on Saturday (5.10pm kickoff).
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Western Province Team
15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Werner Kok, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Huw Jones, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Kobus van Dyk, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Mike Willemse, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Bench:16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 JP Smith, 19 Jurie van Vuuren, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Scott van Breda.