Nick Koster, a 19-year-old Western Province rookie, has been invited to play for the Barbarians against the Australian rugby touring team at Twickenham on December 3.
Stephen Nell writes in Die Burger that Koster will join WP Springboks Schalk Burger, Jean de Villiers and Percy Montgomery in the match against the Wallabies.
Koster, who showed outstanding promise in his first Currie Cup season this year, was over the moon when he received the news on Monday.
“I’m very excited; I feel really privileged,” he said. “I always thought it (playing for the Barbarians) would be a wonderful experience towards the end of my career. It came much earlier than I could have hoped.”
The youngster is looking forward to playing in the company of All Black captain Richie McCaw and other stars.
He also sees it as a great opportunity to be coached by Jake White, who took the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2007. “I have immense respect for him,” he said.
Can hardly believe it is true
Koster confessed to being caught on the wrong foot by the invitation. “I have learnt one should expect anything but I can hardly believe this is true. But a lot of things have happened this year that I did not expect.”
WP professional coach Rassie Erasmus welcomed Koster’s selection. “The more experience he gains at that level the better. He is good enough, and very mature,” Erasmus said.
“He is also physical enough. At the age of 19, he weights 106kg.”
“It’s wonderful for Nick. I had to wait until I was 27 before I could play for the Barbarians,” the former Springbok loose forward said.
Erasmus added that he would stand in no one’s way to play for the Barbarians. He will leave it to the players to decide whether they are mentally and physically up to playing in another first-class match.”
Erasmus denied on Monday that WP had signed Cheetahs loose forward Duane Vermeulen. However, the union is certainly interested in him.
“I brought Duane from the Pumas to the Cheetahs,” Erasmus said. “I will be wonderful if he’d like to join us (WP) but at this stage it’s only a rumour.
“We’ll have to see whether he has recovered from his injuries, but no contract has been signed with him,” Erasmus said.
Rob Wagner, managing director of WP Rugby (Pty) Limited, confirmed Erasmus’s words.
Tweet
Congrats to Koster.
He should do well in the Baabaas style of Rugby.
I wonder how much attention the Aussies will pay to him for their coming S14 and the future?
Erasmus denied on Monday that WP had signed Cheetahs loose forward Duane Vermeulen. However, the union is certainly interested in him.
“I brought Duane from the Pumas to the Cheetahs,” Erasmus said. “I will be wonderful if he’d like to join us (WP) but at this stage it’s only a rumour
That’s the stuff dude. Buy another loosie so that they can scrum in your uncontested scrums. 🙄
Great stuff, hopefull we will see him in the U19 finals doing his thing in his age group. Myself havent rate this kid thus far as to where his playstyle fit but I hope he dont turn into a Bob Skinstadt superhero that dont produce to his talent. Need to keep his feet on the ground and do the hard yards.
Burger, McCaw, Collins… Koster will get a few minutes but what an experience… wonder if this was JW’s call?
Congrats Nik.
Really hope this kid does well, but hes been hyped so much he is almost bound to disapoint.
It’s a BaaBaas rule that there needs to be an uncapped player in every side picked.
@PJLD (Comment 5) :
Will be difficult to disappoint when playing next to McCawsome, Collins and Burger! You just need to run and catch the ball.
Any tips on who the 10 will be?
1
2 Smit
3 Hayman
4
5 Matfield
6 Burger
7 McCaw
8 Collins
9 FDP
11 Habana
10
12 JDV
13
14 William
15 Monty
16
17
18
18
19
20
21
22
@PaarlBok (Comment 3) : don’t think he qualifies for the u19 final… he hasn’t played 3 games for them
Well done young man. 😎
@McLovin (Comment 11) : quite a talent, this oke… was thinking the other night… imagine a WP loose trio of Burger at 6, Kotze at 7 and Vermeulen at 8? Would be awesome…
Oh, wait, I forgot. Vermeulen hasn’t signed for WP.
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 12) :
if you play Kotze you can still have Koster on the bench as well. 😛 😉
Think he’ll play 8 in this game. Have no idea about the fitness of Collins, so maybe his backup.
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 12) : @KSA Shark © (Comment 13) : Hopefully this Kotze fella can play prop. Goodness knows we (WP) need a few of those. 🙄
@KSA Shark © (Comment 13) : I am getting confused about another story I am about to put up
I am disappointing from a WP point of view that Pieter Myburgh havent made the CC stepup. Myself havent saw much of Koster to decide on him but do know Pieter Myburgh is a tough nut. At this time I could not care who play there as long as it dont include Vloek Watson. Dont want him close to any any of my teams jerseys. In these parts we teach 7 year olds to respect his rugby jersey and he want to kots on them. Thats just to much for myself. 😳
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 10) : Thats news to me? Hennie Danillers boetie anyway captaining WP U19s from 8. Pretty good Gimmie that kid.
🙂 @robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 16) :
@PaarlBok (Comment 18) : if he’s anything like his brother, he’ll go on to represent many teams in his life 🙂
isnt luke the kotser?
@PJLD (Comment 21) : funny 🙂
@PJLD (Comment 21) :
Hehehehe.
Did you guys see the Barbarians game where Brent Russel played full back and Carlos Spencer played fly half?? What magic, they absolutely craved the opposition to pieces.
@beez (Comment 24) : Against england in 2005, 52 – 3? to the barbarians