CAPE TOWN: Injuries haven’t been kind to Kobus van Wyk this year.
After a stellar Absa Currie Cup campaign last year, he hasn’t been able to kick on and take this year by the scruff of the neck.
His season for the Stormers and Western Province has lacked rhythm because of those lay-offs and, he had to wait his turn to get back into the team.
His form has also not been great in the few games he started in this Currie Cup campaign, but the big wing put in a cameo show in the win over the Blue Bulls last week.
The former Paarl Gym pupil is back in the WP starting line-up for today’s clash against the Pumas at Newlands (3pm).
At his best, Van Wyk is an explosive runner and a strong ball carrier in the wide area. His size and power will certainly add to the blinding speed of left wing Seabelo Senatla, and the trickery of Dillyn Leyds, who will slot in at fullback in the absence of the injured Cheslin Kolbe this afternoon.
“I said to Kobus that he will start this game. I think he did bloody well last week and he was a member of the Springbok training group earlier this year,” WP coach John Dobson said.
“There was one game he wasn’t quite at his best, but he was outstanding when he came off the bench against the Bulls.
“We saw Kobus’s hunger last week, the way he worked hard and popped up in midfield.
“That is what you want from him, because he is one of the best in the country.”
Earlier this season, when Van Wyk wasn’t picked for the match against the Bulls in Pretoria, Dobson said the right wing was pretty upset and emotional.
But now he is back in the run-on team, and he doesn’t have any plan to relinquish that blue-and-white jersey again this season.
“It’s always nice to be back in the starting line-up, and I want to make the best of this opportunity,” Van Wyk said.
“Being on the sideline made me realise I have to work harder after my injury to get back to where I was at the start of the year.
“It was just an eye opener to fight for my position, because we have good backline players.
“We are all good friends, but the competition is good.”
This afternoon, Van Wyk and his main rival for the No14 jersey, Leyds, will have to work together to counter the Pumas’ big kicking game.
Any wayward kicks from the visitors, though, are also likely to be run back with a lot of intent, as the conditions will be perfect for counter-attacking this afternoon.
“We know each other quite well. Dillyn and I have come a long way from the junior ranks, and I played a lot of rugby with Seabelo last year.
“I think we can do something special this weekend,” Van Wyk said.
“We are aware of their kicking game, and we have our plan.
“We will try and execute our plan, and help Dillyn at the back.”
Besides the counter-attacking, the scrum battle between Pumas tighthead Vincent Koch and Oli Kebble is going to be a real cracker.
The pair were teammates for the Stormers at the start of the season, and both are extremely good operators at scrum this season. This battle may be worth the price of the admission alone.
“It’s worth coming to Newlands,” Dobson said.
“In some ways it’s going to be a great battle.
“Oli is going really well this season and they are both on the roster here.
“Both will be going at it hammer and tongs.
“It would have been the same if Kitsie was playing, but I know Oli is very keen on the battle.” - Saturday Star