News

Coetzee optimistic despite injuries

July 07 2009

Western Province (WP) coach Allister Coetzee is very happy with the way things are going on the training field ahead of their first Currie Cup match of the season.

Province kick off their campaign on Saturday at Newlands when they take on the defending champion Sharks.

Province will be without several stars who are either on national duty, have left, retired or are injured. That, however, didn't prevent Coetzee from expressing a lot of optimism after training on Monday.

"I am very happy with the preparation thus far. We have worked hard and the players have shown great attitude," said Coetzee.

"They were really good and I am happy with what I have seen."

Province have lost experienced centre/wing Gcobani Bobo, wing/full-back Wylie Human and hooker Schalk Brits to overseas clubs recently. Veteran Springboks AJ Venter and Percy Montgomery have retired.

Exciting full-back Gio Aplon is still with the national Sevens team, while Conrad Jantjes, George Earle, Conraad Britz, Tim Whitehead, Hilton Lobberts, Adriaan Fondse, Nick Koster, JC Kritzinger, Deon Fourie and Dylan des Fountain are out injured.

WP are also without current Springboks Schalk Burger (suspended), Andries Bekker (injured) and Jean de Villiers.

Fortunately the experienced Springbok scrum-half Ricky Januarie has been released from national duty and he is available for Saturday's game.

The coach said Lobberts, Louw, Fourie and Fondse are well on their way to recovery and he was expecting them to be ready for consideration sooner rather than later.

"We have a lot of injuries to deal with but it is always important to give young players the opportunity to make their mark in the Currie Cup competition," he said.

"You will always have to deal with injuries, particularly in a competition such as the Currie Cup and you will always have top players out.

"That is why the Currie Cup is there - to help with the development of young players."

Province recently signed experienced former Bulls centre/wing Frikkie Welsh to give the youthful-looking outside back division a bit of a battle-hardened look.

"We had to sign an outside back who could give us the same options that Bobo gave us," said Coetzee.

"Frikkie has experience at outside centre and wing and is available. We won't stand in the way of a guy whose heart is not really here and we tried to get a similar type of player than we have lost."

Province's big signing for the Currie Cup, All Black lock Chris Jack, has also settled in well.

"I am very happy with the way he settled in. He has the experience and it is important that we use it as an asset," said Coetzee.

"The young locks who are coming through, like Hilton, Martin Muller and even Anton van Zyl should benefit from his presence. We want to use Chris in the same way we used Percy with Joe Pietersen and Tony Brown with Peter Grant.

"Chris Jack has the same role to play with our locks. George Earl is a youngster who could also benefit from Jack's experience.

"That is why he is here, but we also won't lose sight of the fact we want to do well in this year's Currie Cup."