Flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis is set to be dropped for Western Province’s Currie Cup clash against Griquas at Newlands on Saturday afternoon.
The normally steady pivot made several costly errors in the match against the Free State Cheetahs on Friday night, which contributed significantly to WP’s second successive defeat of the campaign.
A Catrakilis kick charged down in the second minute of the match led to a Cheetahs try, while he also made other fundamental mistakes that put his team under all sorts of pressure in the first half. While he remains a fine goal-kicker, the WP No 10 also hasn’t been able to create the space for WP’s deadly outside backs.
The fact that he is leaving for France at the end of the Currie Cup campaign may make it easier for WP coach John Dobson to leave him out of the team, with one eye on next season, as players like Kurt Coleman and Robert du Preez are itching to get more game time and show that they can be considered at Super Rugby level next year.
Inside centre Jaco Taute is also skating on thin ice after a few inept performances in the first four matches of the Currie Cup campaign.
The former Lions man, who came back towards the end of the Super Rugby campaign for the Stormers following another serious leg injury, is likely to be given one more chance to prove himself this weekend against Griquas because of the Stormers’ lack of depth at inside centre.
Taute is supposed to play a leading role in the team on attack and defence in the absence of injured captain Juan de Jongh. But the big centre has been unable to get over the advantage line, while his distribution is way below par for a No 12. He has also slipped some key tackles over the last few weeks.
“We are going to look at some personnel changes. I’m not going to say which positions, but we can’t also wish away the last few weeks and pretend everything is fine,” WP coach John Dobson said yesterday.
“In some areas we put ourselves under pressure in the last few weeks, which you can figure out for yourself, but we must make some changes.” - Cape Argus