Cape Town – There is uncertainty surrounding the fitness of Western Province skipper Juan de Jongh ahead of the South African side's tour match against Saracens at Allianz Park in London on Sunday.
De Jongh, who has been named in the starting XV, played two games for the Barbarians within the last week and Province coach Allister Coetzee said there was concern over his enormous workload given the team's successful Currie Cup campaign.
“It's about managing the player's condition. When we arrive in London, the medical staff will do a check up and see if it is wise to play Juan,” Coetzee said on Thursday.
“We'll also look at Michael Rhodes because he too has been playing for the Barbarians. I spoken to them on Wednesday night and they both seem fine.”
Province have added versatile backliner EW Viljoen to the tour squad as a cover for De Jongh.
Although the match would be a friendly, Province were mindful of representing South African rugby.
“The purpose of the tour is a friendly match and it's great to give youngsters an opportunity to go on tour. The new recruits will have a chance to bond with the team and get used to our playing systems.
“It is an important game for us because the message to the players is that we will be representing the Currie Cup champions of South Africa.”
The north London pitch is an artificial one, which feels and plays like grass, but the Province's players have not been exposed to such a surface before.
“There are no concerns about the pitch but we know that underfoot conditions will be fine. It will be cold and there could be rain as well and that's what we are prepared for,” Coetzee said.
“Saracens were last season's European Cup and Premiership runners-up so we're know we'll be up against a team that is well structured.
“Their match-day squad includes at least five players that have done national team duty. We will play the way we have been playing and the intention is to lift our game a notch or two.”
The only new cap in the run-on side is Vincent Koch, a 24-year-old loosehead prop, who has been signed from the Pumas Ä
the Currie Cup First Division champions. Coetzee said the newcomers had been impressive at training over the past few days.
“The new boys have settled in very quickly they are all good rugby players.
“They took to the systems very quickly. We have not yet sewn up our recruitment drive and we're still looking to strengthen one or two positions. We'll able to say more about that when we return.”
The team flies out to London on Thursday night, and return to Cape Town next Tuesday.
Coetzee announced that Province will honour the late Tinus Linee by wearing black armbands. Both teams will observe a minute's silence before kick-off.
Western Province team: Dillyn Leyds, Kobus van Wyk, Juan de Jongh (captain), Jaco Taute, Pat Howard, Demetri Catrakilis, Nic Groom, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Michael Rhodes, Rynhardt Elstadt, Manuel Carizza, Jean Kleyn, Vincent Koch, Scarra Ntubeni, Alistair Vermaak.
Reserves: Bongi Mbonambi, Oli Kebble, Wilco Louw, Gerbrandt Grobler, Jurie van Vuuren, Michael van der Spuy, Kurt Coleman, Louis Schreuder, Michael van der Spuy, EW Viljoen. – Sapa