WP coach Allister Coetzee says that his team wont be changing their attacking gameplan for the Currie Cup semi-final against the Blue Bulls.
Western Province beat the Blue Bulls in both league games this season, and that is why coach Allister Coetzee says that his team won’t be changing their attacking gameplan for a more conservative one in Saturday’s Currie Cup semi-final at Newlands.
In fact, since Coetzee took over the WP Currie Cup team in 2008, they have lost only once to the Blue Bulls at Newlands, although it was a big one – the 2009 semi-final, when Morné Steyn slotted a late penalty for a 21-19 win.
The Cape Times
While the Blue Bulls are traditionally a team that use a big kicking game and their forwards in a grinding, attritional style of play, Coetzee said that it doesn’t mean Province will be lured into such a battle.
And the main reason for that is that strike weapons Cheslin Kolbe and Seabelo Senatla are all set to return from injury and Springbok Sevens duty respectively.
But it is believed that utility back Justin Geduld suffered a broken nose while playing for the Sevens Boks in Australia at the weekend, so he won’t be fit.
Young lock Jean Kleyn is also likely to be back from his shoulder problem, while Coetzee may spring a further surprise at lock. The coach said that his first-choice fullback and No 4 lock have made significant progress with their rehabilitation.
“Cheslin already started training with us last week, and he is looking good. I didn’t see what happened in the Sevens, but Senatla scored three tries and will also be back in the mix. So luckily both those players played in the two Bulls games in the league phases,” Coetzee said after the past Saturday’s 28-20 defeat to the Sharks.
“Jean Kleyn has been training with us as well, so there’s also positive news there.”
Asked if Province will look to kick more due to the Blue Bulls’ playing style and because playoff games tend to be tight encounters, Coetzee said: “No, we will change very little of what has worked for us the whole season. I think that’s actually where you make the mistake – if you want to become too conservative.
“We always strive for a good balance, and what has worked for us in broken play, we will keep on doing that. We know that it is about first-phase possession, and that’s where the challenge will come from, in the scrums and lineouts. And of course the kicking game as well, we have to be prepared for that.
“The Bulls are normally a very tough opponent in playoff matches. And they’ve got experience in Handré Pollard, a general at 10, who will come to Newlands. But for us, it doesn’t matter who we are playing against. It’s about being back at Newlands and playing in a semi-final. But we want to go two steps further – making the final and going all the way.”
Coetzee admitted that he has a “few big calls” to make at lock. Gerbrandt Grobler came through his return from a long-term shoulder injury to add his name to the mix along with Kleyn, Manuel Carizza and Rynhardt Elstadt.
But the Cape Times understands that Coetzee is seriously considering bulking up the WP pack to deal with the physical Blue Bulls unit by utilising Michael Rhodes at No 5 lock. Rhodes was a success in the second row for the Stormers this year when injuries sidelined a number of locks, and the former Lions star has been a superb in the Currie Cup at blindside flank too.
Coetzee revealed that he was considering picking Elstadt at No 7 instead of lock due to Kleyn’s return, so having Rhodes at No 5 and Elstadt at flank would be a clever plan to counter giant Blue Bulls such as lock Paul Willemse and Jacques du Plessis at blindside flank.
Carizza would normally slot in at No 5 and call the lineouts, but he probably lacks that hard edge physically to withhold the Blue Bulls onslaught.
After being a bit off the pace against the Cheetahs last week in his return from suspension, Elstadt was back to his robust best against the Sharks when carrying the ball and in defence. “Jean Kleyn has been playing really well this year, and you know that you’ve got to front up physically against the Bulls,” Coetzee said.
“So you might just use a player like Rynhardt as a loose forward in combination with (Nizaam) Carr, Michael Rhodes and (Sikhumbuzo) Notshe (on the bench), if you look at a bit of bulk. And guys that can play with the ball like Nizaam Carr and Notshe, it’s also an option to go with that.”
Another scenario could see Elstadt and Rhodes in the loose trio alongside Carr, with Kleyn and Carizza at lock, but that would be unfair on Sikhumbuzo Notshe, who has excelled in an unfamiliar openside flank position.
Notshe got a chance at his preferred No 8 spot against the Sharks and was terrific, bringing the same attributes to the side that Carr does with his speed and skill, leading to Coetzee saying he was a “revelation”.
Coetzee stated that players pushing for semi-final starting spots are Elstadt, Grobler, Oli Kebble and Kurt Coleman. Of that group, Coleman would be a better choice at No 10 than Demetri Catrakilis to take on Bok flyhalf Handré Pollard.
Coleman won his personal duel with Pollard during the Super Rugby clash in July in a 16-0 Stormers victory, and showed some neat touches in general play against the Sharks, while he attacked the advantage line with vigour as well. Coleman also scored a try and recorded a 100% goal-kicking performance (four out of four).
But despite having greater variety and a stronger defence, Coleman is unlikely to get the nod from Coetzee as the coach regards Catrakilis as WP’s No 1 flyhalf at the moment.
@ MacroBlouBul:
Dis ‘n Province ding, ‘n lekker, lekker, Province ding, ons kan nie worrie nie, want ons gaan wennnnnn…
😆
@ Jeraldjay:
is dit nie n kurt darren ding nie?
A belated hi from me as well guys !! 😉
@ MacroBlouBul:
Kurt Darren wishes it was his “ding”.
@ Jeraldjay:
😆
@ Jeraldjay:
35
Hi JJ
I must be doff but I see zero talent in Elstadt.
All I see is some fairly big oke running around trying to moer Okes in a different colour jersey.
Can’t pass, can’t dummy, not too fast….
Just pretty ordinary
35 @ MacroBlouBul:
Good luck for Saturday Macro and hopefully the best team will win and Pollard won’t get injured…
@ Charo:
Sorry, JJ @ 29
AC said yesterday that the match 15 have been picked and it is just a question of sorting out the bench. IMO if there is any doubt about Taute, he should not play.
It will be interesting to see if Elstadt is picked at 6 (in that case Notshe will be on the bench) or 7 – according to the the rumours in the above article that Rhodes may play at 5 – maybe it isn’t such a bad idea. Kleyn has to play at 4 and I’m very tempted to say that Grobler should be picked ahead of Carizza but maybe they’ll go with the experience of Carizza.
36 @ Charo:
Hi Charo. You have the right to your own opinion.
That’s how I feel about Keegan Daniel.
Elstadt is big and strong always gets over the advantage line.
His still young and with experience will learn all the other nuances of being a good loosie.
@ Charo:
It’s a pity Elstadt isn’t a bit taller – he would have been a good 4 lock IMO. At the moment he can fill in at 4 but will never really be a top lock.
I think injuries have taken its toll and his short fuse has not exactly helped his cause
I was once told by somebody who went to the rugby academy at Stellenbosch with Elstadt that his fellow students were always shit scared of him.. apparently it hurts like hell to tackle him and it hurts even more to get tackled or cleaned out by him … He is ideal to play against a physical side like the Bulls.
@ robzim:
100% correct Rob! That might just be the reason that he’ll start on Saturday.
I know there are a few opponents that don’t “enjoy” his physical presence on the park
41 @ charlesm:
Elstadt is over 6 foot but his not tall.
His just a big man.
You probably have to see him up close to understand what I mean.
Jeraldjay wrote:
I have stood next to him and I know what you mean !
So it looks like Rhodes, Elstadt and Carr with Notshe on the bench.
JJ, that trio is a bit unbalanced IMO with mostly ball carriers.
Who is going to counter Stegmann ?
Rohan Kitshoff might be a surprise (I know it is probably unlikely) inclusion on the bench but then the bench will have to be a 5 / 2 split.
@ charlesm:41
Pretty much my view – a guy who has enough skill to be a #4 lock but without the height and not enough skill to be a blindside flank.
So tries to make up for it by being over aggressive on the field.
Sorry you weepee okes, don’t rate him.
@ Charo:
Just to add, I rate Rhodes as a better 7 than Elstadt.
Mainly because he is more intelligent, has better vision, and can catch and pass.
Elstadt lacks most of these basic skills.
@ 48 – Probably not Kitshoff: with Kleyn and Grobler just back from injury there will have to be sufficient cover at lock – with one lock on the bench plus Notshe plus 2 props and a hooker.
47 @ charlesm:
Correct they all ball carriers and no “to the ball” players.
Steggies could be a major factor.
@ Charo:
Hi pal,
Have lost your contact details>Need them quite urgently
Please SMS phone no to
elmafegen@telkomsa.net
Kind regards to you & Helen
Rye.
26 & 27 @ MacroBlouBul:
my glass is in the ocean…! 😉
i hope you’re right bud…!!
28 @ Jeraldjay:
Hehehe…
29 @ Jeraldjay:
yeah… i’m a big fan of his… notwithstanding his occasional brain burp…
also think he’s getting targeted by refs now and penalised for things many others get away with…
39 @ charlesm:
i agree with all that… but i’m sure you already know that… 😉
36 @ Charo:
well… you said it bud…!! 😉 😆
40 @ Jeraldjay:
yeah… rynhardt brings a lot of (a word i hate to use) physicality to the party…!
42 @ robzim:
43 @ charlesm:
ditto…
@ ryecatcher:
evening rye… you all well pal…?
seems i’m dancing by myself… with tears in my eyes…!!
g’night all…
lekker slaap…!!
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