Griquas have selection 'headaches' ahead of semifinal
INJURY UPDATE: Griquas will head to Pretoria on Friday without two of their most seasoned players.
Stormers-bound scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer and veteran Simon Westraadt will both miss the Currie Cup semifinal showdown with the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
Both players took heavy head knocks in the come-from-behind win over the Pumas in Nelspruit this past weekend.
Neither have passed their Head Injury Assessment protocols and will not be considered for selection this week.
Ungerer, 28, has signed with the Stormers for next season and will make a permanent move to Cape Town after the current season – having had a loan stint with them earlier.
Westraadt, 36, has most likely also played his last match of the season.
The good news is that utility back Zander du Plessis could come back after missing last week’s encounter as a result of concussion.
Centre Sango Xamlashe said they have gained confidence from their most recent results – victories over the Pumas (45-44), Western Province (43-41), Cheetahs (46-18) and Lions (23-17).
“We are very confident of our plan for this weekend,” he said of the trip to Pretoria.
“Our biggest challenge is to repeat the performance of the last few weeks.
“We are in a good place, despite having lost twice already to them this year,” he said of the 38-48 (at Loftus) and 27-53 (in Kimberley) league losses.
He added that Griquas will stay true to their brand and play an expansive game.
“In our last game against the Bulls we didn’t have a good first half,” he said, adding: “In the second half we showed what we are capable of.
“We will go into this game with the same mindset.”
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