Etzebeth back in training

 

There is additional good news for the Province side with Frans Malherbe, Gerbrandt Grobler, Demetri Catrakilis and Kobus van Wyk all back in full training.

 

Malherbe (concussion) and Van Wyk (calf muscle) missed the business-end of the Stormers’ recently-completed Super Rugby campaign but both trained flat out at  WP’s well-attended open session at the Langa Sports Grounds on Tuesday.

 

Etzebeth has not played at all in 2014 after suffering a foot injury at the end of 2013 and then a toe injury before he completed his rehabilitation from the former, whilst second row colleague Gerbrandt Grobler (shoulder/leg) is also back to full fitness after missing all of 2014 up until now.

 

It remains to be seen, however, if Etzebeth will feature in the Currie Cup for WP – depending on his Springbok commitments.

 

Last but not least, Catrakilis has shaken off a few niggles to return to full training ahead of  Western Province’s first game of the 2014  Currie Cup season on Friday, August 8 – against the EP Kings.

 

Meanwhile,  Western Province coach Allister Coetzee revealed that he would wait until the announcement of the Springbok squad this coming weekend before announcing his captain for the Currie Cup season.

 

“We have identified eight to ten players who we want to develop in a leadership role,” said Coetzee.

 

“We won’t be announcing a captain as yet, only once we know who will be chosen for the Springboks can we make a final decision on that.”

 

Still needing a bit more time to recover, lock Ruan Botha sat out today’s training session with an ankle injury – there will be more clarity after his final scan tomorrow.

 

Centre Juan de Jongh also sat out training with a slight bump to his knee. He is being managed but will be good to go for  WP’s opening game against the EP Kings.

 

Flyhalf Kurt Coleman also has a slight knee niggle and will be touch and go for  WP’s opening game against the Kings.

 

Prop Brok Harris (shoulder) is two/three weeks away from being considered for selection.

 

There are a number of players who should return for WP, but only in their second match against the Bulls, those are hooker Siyabonga Ntubeni (foot), and Rynhardt Elstadt (shoulder).

 

Meanwhile in the centres Jean de Villiers is running flat out and midfield partner Damian de Allende is running in a controlled environment. Both are recovering from knee injuries.