Nic Koster will become the most senior player in a group of rookie Under-21s representing the youngest, most inexperienced Western Province team in years to run out and face the Sharks at Newlands on Friday.
It’s Currie Cup crisis in the Cape and Koster, just 19 and with only two caps to his name, has every chance of starting the game at No 8.
Dale Granger writes in Cape Argus that flyhalf Willem de Waal will be out for an indefinite period after undergoing surgery for a hip injury and at training on Monday Under-21 pivot Coenie van Wyk, who played for WP in last year’s Under-19 final, found himself competing against UCT No 10 Craig Rosslee for a starting role on Friday.
Koster may also start his first Currie Cup game at No 8, as a facial injury to hooker Deon Fourie could see Schalk Brits reverting to the front row and at halfback there is a good chance that another rookie, Dewald Duvenhage, could wear No 9.
These young Turks are set to be thrown into battle against a Sharks team loaded with Springboks with Deon Carstens, BJ Botha and Jannie du Plessis all fit to be selected in the front row.
Young Wicus Blaauw is already cutting his teeth in the WP front row and at centre, with Dylan des Fountain also out injured, it’s a toss up between two more rookies, Morgan Newman and PJ Vermeulen.
So how does Koster, who scored his first try in his second Currie Cup game against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday, feel about squaring up to big-name players of the calibre of Jacques Botes and Keegan Daniel?
“Excited and apprehensive”, was the response of the teenager after training.
“It’s a big challenge and a huge adventure stepping up to this level,” said the loose-forward who was captaining his school, Bishops, this time last year.
“Playing alongside guys like AJ Venter and Schalk Brits has been a huge experience and they have made it so much easier for me to adapt and fit into the side,” he added.
Koster was still glowing in the warmth of scoring his first Currie Cup try in a move off the back row which saw him combining with Duvenhage and holding a hot pass to dive over.
“The whole thing felt surreal and I can’t actually remember the act of scoring itself. But it was a move we have worked on in training and it was planned, not instinctive,’ he said.
Province need to win on Friday just to keep treading water, but if they are beaten the emphasis will almost certainly switch to preparing for next year’s Super 14.
Coach Allister Coetzee said he had done the maths and Province would need 25 points from their last seven games to make the play-offs this season.
That gives them enough leeway to lose two more games, but then they would have to bank the maximum five points in the remaining five to sneak into the semifinals.
The Sharks are set to field their most potent backline at Newlands, but coach John Plumtree is as surprised as the next man that the Bok trio of Ruan Pienaar, Odwa Ndungane and Frans Steyn have been returned to bolster that very backline.
The trio were axed from the Springbok squad ahead of Saturday’s Test against Argentina and Plumtree said it was perplexing that the three play-makers were not in that reduced group.
“It is really good to have them back but I’m really surprised that players of this calibre have been released. In particular, to have Frans and Ruan back playing provincial rugby is quite a surprise.”
Hoewever, Plumtree is counting his lucky stars and he confirmed that Pienaar will start at scrumhalf this weekend while Frederic Michalak – who seems to have fully recovered from his hip injury – will start at No 10.
Outside of him, Steyn will run at inside centre, where he played for the Boks during the World Cup, while Waylon Murray and Stefan Terblanche are set to retain their regular spots at outside centre and fullback respectively.
Ndungane will slot on to the wing with possibly either Chris Jordaan or Henno Mentz.
The backline will therefore have an extremely formidable look and with a couple of key Western Province backs suffering from injuries, it could well be a case of the Sharks making hay while the sun shines.
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😆 This was not my headline BTW it was Granger’s own 😆
Oh please not Mentz pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease! 😯
Goats have no chances at all against Guppies.
A superb Haaie pack will make the difference.
Anyway: Prooooooooooooovince!!!!!! 😉
@H.O. (Comment 3) :
No NO you have it all wrong. This very esteemed Cape / WP reporter is calling WP the Guppies 😆
What next? Ashfak Mohammed calling them gay? 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 4) :
I dont think that a guy who is one letter away from being censored can call anybody gay.
@Big Fish (Comment 5) :
Don’t go firing up the cannon/loading the gun/fuelling the fire now….
@KSA Shark © (Comment 4) : @Hmmm (Comment 7) :
Or maybe that is Dale’s plan…getting the heart rate’s of the WP ou’s going for the game the weekend…
KSA…Is SuperSport still not televising the game?
Maybe they had great foresight in knowing WP would have been depleted at this stage of the comp…
😀
@Hmmm (Comment 10) : I checked and on Super rugby it sais that both the Lions and Sharks matches are being televised Live.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 11) : Sharks VS wp ss1 Lions Vs Bulls SS7
Mentz has been dumped. Doubt he’ll get back in
@Hmmm (Comment 9) :
Nope.
Dear Mr. Bosch
I would like to respond further to your e-mail to Juliet regarding women’s rugby and in particular the two internationals that will be played on the 9th and the 16th of August as curtain raisers to the Argentina test at Coca Cola Park and the Tri Nations test against New Zealand in Cape Town.
We considered covering the two internationals but have no channel space for a live broadcast and our decision was to record the game and distribute the highlights to our rugby magazine shows, the update channel Blitz and the IRB Total Rugby program which will also be doing a feature on the 1st Test. The highlights will also feature on the program Rugby Africa.
Where possible we do consider coverage of women’s rugby and try and accommodate certain events given the availability of facilities, personnel, sponsorship and budget. We are passionate about rugby at Supersport and cover in the region of 400 games a year, the bulk of which are live. Women’s rugby is perhaps unfortunately a very small percentage of that coverage but nevertheless certainly not ignored.
Kind regards
Scott Seward
Supersport executive producer rugby
@Hmmm (Comment 9) :
unless you are talking about the WP Sharks game.
That is and has been scheduled to be shown from the start.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 12) : It ain’t on Sky. Will have to try kuduclub. Groan
I reckon it’s going to get ugly for WP on Friday. But I’ve still picked them on SB. Denial I think it’s called. 😐
@robdylan (Comment 16) : Not a single Currie Cup match on Sky this weekend. Do the Valke have a bye? 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 14) :
Wasnt one of their excuses that they didnt show curtainraisers. I remember reading that somewhere and thought about it again while watching a bit of the curtainraiser (WP / LIONS U/21) before the main event last weekend. Maybe they should have said that they dont show curtain raisers featuring women.
@McLovin (Comment 17) :
A royal McStuffin…
@Salmonoid (Comment 19) :
A waste of 000000’s and 11111111’s
@Salmonoid (Comment 19) : They only show women on a rugby field if they’re wearing skimpy outfits and dancing.
@McLovin (Comment 17) :
And Now I see the WP management are playing right into the Sharks’ hands
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2008/08/06/erasmus-and-coetzee-have-some-explaining-to-do/
@Salmonoid (Comment 19) :
I am just trying to wrack my brain to try and remember if they have ever shown any Women’s rugby
Hey guys… did PDVs reason for releasing Ruan and Steyn only make sense to me?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 24) :
Don’t beat yourself up over it buddy…
@KSA Shark © (Comment 24) : I doubt it.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 24) :
I dont know about SA women but have seen the New Zealand All Amazonian team pummeling one or other unfortunate team before.
@blackshark (Comment 25) :
if his reason was so that The Sharks could thump WP then NO, It made sense to me as well.
@robdylan (Comment 13) : Best news I have heard in ages!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 15) :
Yeh I was referring to that game….
I must have been confused…or misunderstood a previous comment of yours…
I can remember commenting jokingly that they don’t show minnow games and then said it would most probably feature at 20:05…in reference to this game…
Must be another game then…been hectic at work…and hectic socially too…mind everywhere at once…so forgive if you will…
@Hmmm (Comment 31) :
And no not the woman’s rugby game…that they were clear about not showing from the start…was a CC game…
@KSA Shark © (Comment 24) : If you have’nt wrecked your brains…. 😀
How will I know that you guys received my mail concerning changes to my F/L team? ❓
@Hmmm (Comment 31) : JINNE JONG!!! 😀 Try the old slow down routine!!
@Silver Fox (Comment 34) :
@Hmmm (Comment 31) :
must HAVE BEEN??????
You are still confused. Yes your memory is correct, well partially anyway 😉 You did say what you think you said but obviously didn’t read what I said.
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2008/07/26/sa-womens-squad-revealed/
can anyone confirm that the WP/Sharks match ain’t gonna be televised?
Comment 17, posted at 30.07.08 09:28:55 by robdylan Edit
———————-
@robdylan (Comment 17) :
I can confirm that it IS being shown.
19:00 – 21:10 SS1 ABSA Currie Cup: WP v The Sharks LIVE
Comment 18, posted at 30.07.08 09:36:24 by KSA Shark © Edit
———————–
@KSA Shark © (Comment 18) :
it seems the fixture has changed.
i will sort our fixture page NOW
———————–
Comment 19, posted at 30.07.08 09:37:12 by KSA Shark © Edit
And just to avoid any confusion
19:00 – 21:10 SS7 ABSA Currie Cup: Blue Bulls v Xerox Lions LIVE
One is on SS1 and the other is on SS7
Comment 20, posted at 30.07.08 09:38:19 by KSA Shark © Edit
————————
@KSA Shark © (Comment 19) :
Done
Comment 21, posted at 30.07.08 09:44:28 by KSA Shark © Edit
———————–
@KSA Shark © (Comment 19) : awesome!
Comment 22, posted at 30.07.08 09:49:59 by robdylan Edit
———————–
@robdylan (Comment 17) :
They usually televise the matches where minnows play minnows delayed…
Comment 23, posted at 30.07.08 09:56:42 by Hmmm Edit
@Silver Fox (Comment 33) :
Because I will say “Silver Fox we have received your changes”
Oh before I forget “Silver Fox we have received your changes” 😉
@Silver Fox (Comment 34) :
He smokes weed to slow down after speed. 😆 Seems he has run out of weed 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 38) :
and Hi Ice 👿
and KSA, I did sent an E-mail. Whatwith earlier problems, I do not want to drown you guys in them!! 😛 Advise please.
@Silver Fox (Comment 39) : Gee, did not see the above post!!! 😯 😯 😳 😳
@Silver Fox (Comment 39) :
Hi Sliver… 😉
@Silver Fox (Comment 40) :
Dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😆 😆
How did you not see it? You replied to it?
You been raiding Hmmm’s closet? 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 37) : But hey dude, where would you have said this? I have not seen any reference to anyone in these posts, or am I the only one that made changes? AND I read most of the comments, only try to ignore the blonde one!!
Not TO it, AFTER it 😳
😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 37) : This was the one I have not seen 😉 Did not reply to this.
@Silver Fox (Comment 43) :
I might be blonde, but I can read…I had lasik surgery – so 20/20 vision – you cannot hide small font from me…. 😈
Ignore all you want – you the one losing out on some laughter!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 44) : We’re circling here! Like hungry sharks.
You said last night to someone something about IP’s and so forth. Could that affect E-mails to you as well? I’m not too clued up with this Net-stuff, as you can probably see. 😉
@Silver Fox (Comment 43) :
No we don’t usuually send an confirmsation email. I was just pulling your leg. But we DID get your mail but you did however NOT tell us from when you wanted your players in your team. Rnd 8 9 or 10?
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 46) : Will not even think about it 😀
@Silver Fox (Comment 47) :
no it won’t affect emails.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 48) : Thanks. With immediate effect. That does have a formidable ring to it. 😀
@KSA Shark © (Comment 48) : Oh, and by the way, with competitions like this, you need to respond to E-mails!! EVEN if it is to Hmmm! 😆
@Silver Fox (Comment 49) :
Cool – just checking…. 😉
@Silver Fox (Comment 51) :
cool thanks.
will let Rob know
@KSA Shark © (Comment 36) :
LoL I donno if I should be joyful that my memory is not shot or depressed that I cannot read…. 😉
@Hmmm (Comment 55) : 😛
@Hmmm (Comment 55) :
Try lasik..
