Masimla can stake Stormers claim

Godlen Masimla of the Stormers during the Stormers morning training session at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town on 5 April 2016 ©Chris Ricco/BackpagePix

Godlen Masimla of the Stormers during the Stormers morning training session at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town on 5 April 2016 ©Chris Ricco/BackpagePix

Published May 5, 2016

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Cape Town - With the departure of Nic Groom at the end of Super Rugby, scrumhalf Godlen Masimla would want to make a big impression for Western Province in the Provincial Cup.

Masimla sat out last week’s last-gasp 27-24 win over the Golden Lions at Newlands due to concussion, with WP needing a Grant Hermanus penalty after the hooter to clinch victory.

But now with Groom announcing this week that he will be joining Northampton in England at the end of the season, Masimla has a chance to push Louis Schreuder for a starting berth in the Currie Cup, and even on the Stormers bench for the rest of Super Rugby.

Masimla replaces Justin Phillips in the Province starting line-up for Saturday’s clash against the Sharks XV in Durban, while Kobus van Dyk will make his WP debut at No 8 in place of the injured Tertius Daniller.

Jurie van Vuuren moves back to lock at the expense of Eduard Zandberg, with Meyer Swanepoel taking over at blindside flank.

Schreuder could come under pressure for his spot after making a few crucial mistakes in the 32-30 defeat to the Waratahs at Newlands last week. He kicked the ball away a few times when the Stormers needed to hold on to the ball, while in the closing stages, he failed to clear the ball from the back of the scrum, and the Australians won a tighthead to set up Michael Hooper’s winning try.

Masimla’s speed across the ground and ability to keep defences honest around the fringes could make him an ideal impact player for the Stormers, but he will need to produce a standout performance in Saturday’s clash against the Sharks XV in Durban (5.30pm kickoff).

With the Stormers on a bye this week, it is an ideal chance for coach Robbie Fleck to have a good look at Masimla and perhaps inside Daniel du Plessis, a classy player whom Fleck said almost made the Stormers match-23 for the Tahs match.

With Damian de Allende taking longer than expected to find his feet following a lengthy ankle injury, the Stormers’ next game against the Sunwolves in Singapore on May 14 could be just the type of game to introduce Du Plessis to Super Rugby.

WP coach John Dobson, though, will hope that his team can continue their three-match unbeaten start to the competition, but it won’t be easy against a Sharks side bolstered by Super Rugby players in left wing S’bura Sithole and centre Heimar Williams.

TEAMS FOR DURBAN:

Western Province:15 Grant Hermanus, 14 Khanyo Ngcukana, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Daniel du Plessis, 11 Sibahle Maxwane, 10 Scott van Breda, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Kobus van Dyk, 7 Meyer Swanepoel, 6 Luke Stringer, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 3 JP Smith, 2 Mike Willemse, 1 Alistair Vermaak.

Bench:16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kyle Whyte, 18 Christo van der Merwe, 19 Eital Bredenkamp, 20 Justin Phillips, 21 JP Lewis, 22 Berton Klaassen.

Sharks XV:15 Alrin Eksteen, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Nkululeko Marwana, 12 Marius Louw, 11 S’bura Sithole, 10 Tristan Tedder, 9 Dylan Marcus, 8 Retief Marais, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Khaya Majola (captain), 5 Tijiuee Uanivi, 4 David McDuling, 3 Cornelius Kramer, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 1 Mzamo Majola.

Bench:16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Wian Vosloo, 19 Ayron Schramm, 20 Hanco Venter, 21 Sandile Kubeka, 22 Heimar Williams.

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