DHL Western Province coach Allister Coetzee will shortly name his squad for this years Absa Currie Cup campaign.
With a list of players as long as Andries Bekkers arm ruled out due to Springbok commitments WP are going to have to dig deep this year if they hope to mount a serious challenge for CC honours again this year.
Schalk Burger, Jean De Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Juan De Jong, Andries Bekker, Gio Aplon, Bryan Habana and Francois Louw are all ruled out. Last years CC cup Anton van Zyl is off to France, firebrand lock Rynhardt Elstadt and Duane Vermuelen out with long term injuries and Peter Grant has also returned to his commitments in Japan.
Allister Coetzee must be sitting in his chair wondering how the heck they ended up in this position.Young flyhalf Gary van Aswegen seems to be on the mend and is probably going to be the first choice ten for this years campaign, Lionel Cronje and Kurt Coleman are still injured so the WP coaching staff a probably on the prowl for another pivot.
The front row of Blaauw Liebenberg/Fourie Harris should remain and while they did get hammered by the Crusaders pack you have to ask “well who the hell didn’t?”
The lock and back row selections should be interesting. Adriaan Fondse would have had the first go at the number 4 jersey just last year but it appears that he has angered King Rassie and has fallenso far out of favour he can’t even get into an invitational team.De Kock Steenkamp may get an extended run at 4 while Stephen Greef or the young Eben Etzebeth will have a shot at claiming jersey 5.
The back row should also have a very young and inexperience look to it with only Pieter Louw and Nick Koster having had much senior rugby.Siya Kolisi, Nizaam Carr, Tertius Daniller and Yaya Hartzenberg should be seeing this as their big chance to make a name for themselves.
Among the backs, Dewaldt Duvange will be there to inject some experience and also seems likely to be captain having been vice captain during last years campaign, as stated earlier Gary van Aswegen will probably have the ten jumper but Ismaael Dollie has had a run at pivot during the preseason. The rest of the backs should include Bulls bound JJ Engelbrech and Johan Sadie, Tim Whitehead , Marcel Brache, Bom Samaai , Danie Poolman and Conrad Jantjes.
I look forward to the squad announcement but with the sort of luck WP have been having don’t be surprised if half those players end up injured.
I can’t wait for the announcement of the WP u19 and u21 teams
I’m also looking forward to this announcement!!
Go PRovince!!!
Loving all these WP articles, thats how EVERY Monday should start
This is the team that played Boland recently :
15. Danie Poolman
14. Ederies Arendse
13. Marcel Brache
12. Tim Whitehead
11. JJ Engelbrecht
10. Ismaeel Dollie
9. Nick Groom
8. Tertius Daniller
7. Yaasir Hartzenberg
6. Wimpie Van Der Walt
5. Stephan Greeff
4. De Kock Steenkamp
3. Tom Botha
2. Sidney Tobias
1. JD Moller (C)
Reserves:
16. Siyabonga Ntubeni
17. Brummer Badenhorst
18. Grant Hattingh
19. Jody Birch
20. Fred Muller
21. Demetri Catrikilis
22. Shuaib Samaai
Cant wait for ALL the provinces’ squad announcements
GOOODDDD MORNING, WPWORLD!!!!!!!!!
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 5) : I thought Yaya was injured…. if he was available, why was Brits called up for the semi?
The revolution will not be televised!
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Don’t think its a long term one, also he was seriously pants last year.
Rob who is our best bet at 15, gouws, pienaar or de kock? This is eating at me and I can’t believe we are approaching our future planning like this…de Kock may be another Wes Dunlop-developed and then lost by the sharks…what is going on are we in financial crises? What is up? I spoke to some Province players this weekend and the all agree that the sharks may be one of the best franchises to play for but our investment in the future is pretty shameful. We rather get a Joubert for a arm and a leg-then secure 3 juniors for the same money…what is up with this??? Viljoen??? Good signing for sharks but we are sending a kak message to our academy players who see players not be rewarded for good service…strauli is a royal tool…I rest my case…in 3 years the Bulls would be tops again…I love to hate them…but this time respect to the Bulls…
@BoerSeun (Comment 11) : we’ve let both of Pienaar and De Kock go, so I guess Gouws Prinsloo is the man…
Accordong to News 24 Tim Whitehead and Johann Sadie will be on mid.field duty this weekend.
@robdylan (Comment 12) : Were Pienaar and de Kock previously contracted? Is Gouws contracted?
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 13) :
And Gary Van Aswegan is back!!
@Salmonoid (Comment 14) : Pienaar had a junior contract, which was extended for the duration of the Vodacom Cup and not renewed after that.
De Kock was, I think, brought in on a junior contract initially, but played virtually no age-group rugby because of injuries. He was playing as an uncontracted player during this year’s Vodacom Cup.
Gouws is still on a junior contract because he’s still u21 this year.
@robdylan (Comment 12) : Rob here’s some more info that may proof true…Stormers are looking to secure Ruan Pienaar…even if they get Hougard they are still looking to secure Pienaar…then this is Janjies finale hoera with the stormers…may be why they are after Viljoen… So let’s see what happens
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 9) : Nor will the Sharks vs Pumas from Nelspruit next weekend.
@robdylan (Comment 16) : Thanks.
@BoerSeun (Comment 17) : my sources in Kimberley (i.e. in the Griquas camp) tell me that Viljoen HAS definitely signed for the Sharks.
It was announced on his official facebook page as well
Almost all of the games involving the Pumas and Leopards will not be televised
The Dstv Monopoly at its best. 
@robdylan (Comment 20) : So when does he join us? End of the CC?
@robdylan (Comment 20) :
Great news!
@robdylan (Comment 20) : Great Rob just sharing some info, don’t think its a bad signing for the sharks…Viljoen can do anything that frats steyn can do with the boot, good player, but wish we stuck to our guns and backed our youngsters…and I stille rate Louis at 15 that’s why signing Viljoen doesn’t phase me…rather would dish out big money for Sadie or de jonge…
@JarsonX (Comment 21) : Swak, results aside, the Pumas played some entertaining ruggas last season.
@JarsonX (Comment 21) : Sucks if you are from the smaller unions – the guys that need the most exposure just dont get it.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 25) : @Salmonoid (Comment 26) : Agree, it’s pathetic. We had the discussion on the dstv forums last year. They just don’t get that local rugby should be 1st choice. I’m pretty sure that a Puma v Leopards game will be more exciting than a Waratahs v Brumbies game.
@JarsonX (Comment 27) : I’m with you hundred boet.
@robdylan (Comment 20) : That is good news but when does it come into effect – before or after the Currie Cup? Would be great if we got Viljoen for the Currie Cup!
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 29) : it will be after
@JarsonX (Comment 27) : @Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 28) : Interesting that the Sharks Board (Pty) Ltd have 3 of the 10 directors positions occupied by Supersport affiliates. (Imitaz Patel, Heinrich Enslin and Imra Soomra)
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 29) :
It’s only from next year I’m afraid.
@robdylan (Comment 30) :
You don’t seem very positive about Viljoen. Are you not happy about the signing?
@robdylan (Comment 30) : @Pokkel (Comment 32) : Well that will at least give Ludik a chance to prove a point or for one of the youngsters to get a chance at fullback (in the case of Ludik being rested or injured). Hope Viljoen keeps his form of the 2011 Super 15 for the 2012 Super 15 otherwise it will be yet another cheque wasted…
@Pokkel (Comment 33) : he’s a good guy to have in the squad, sure… but his age is a concern for me.
@Salmonoid (Comment 31) : Where did you pull that bit of info out?
@robdylan (Comment 35) : He’s 28 compared to Joubert and Stef he’s a youngster.
I predict you’ll become his biggest fan in about a years time.
@robdylan (Comment 35) : @Pokkel (Comment 37) : Only 28! Good grief he is in his prime then! Sharks to pull a good 9 or 10 years of rugby out of him!
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 5) : The one that got beaten by Boland?
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Don’t ask questions that make people uncomfortable.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 40) : oh sorry, I forgot. I must behave myself here on StormersWorld
@KSA Shark © (Comment 39) : Thats the one
@robdylan (Comment 41) : Good to see you’re getting with the program.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 42) : the same Boland team full of has-beens and never-were’s that wear PINK JERSEYS?
@robdylan (Comment 44) :
@robdylan (Comment 44) : I’m going to remember that one for when WP beat the Sharks twice in the CC
@robdylan (Comment 44) :
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 46) : I’ll be there on the one occassion when they won’t be doing it.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 36) : Stumbled across it on Sharksrugby.co.za. Heres the link http://www.kznrugby.co.za/structure.html.
Sharks should milk these guys to televise all games, all under 19s and 21s games and throw in club games as well.
So Duane Vermuelen will captain WP this year.Erm…ok then
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 50) :
Is he not still injured?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 51) : would you believe he actually is?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 51) : @robdylan (Comment 52) : Exactly, D has a real injury.The vice captain is also injured.Luckily WP have the future Springbok captain Nick Koster to call on.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 53) :
Say it aint so!! lol
Allister mentions Tiaan, Deon Fourie and Pieter Louw as leaders who have captained before!!
@robdylan (Comment 52) :
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 53) :
