Vermeulen boost for struggling WP
Western Province will be buoyed by the return of star No.8 Duane Vermeulen, as the struggling Cape Town outfit head to Kimberley to face Griquas in a Currie Cup Round Two match on Saturday.
Vermeulen, who has been on the fringe of Springbok selection for the past two years, is one of several Province loose forwards who been struggling with injuries this season.
The burly loose forward, who has not played since April following a knee injury, has finally made a full recovery and will start in Kimberley.
"He'll play," WP coach Allister Coetzee said on Monday.
"Duane had two training sessions today [Monday] and he's looking good," said Coetzee.
There will be changes made to the Province team ahead of the trip to Kimberley.
With injuries playing a role – both in terms of players returning and those missing out – head coach Allister Coetzee ran through his team's long injury-list at a press briefing on Monday.
As reported at the weekend, prop Deon Carstens (broken nose) and backs Burton Francis (knee) and Joe Pietersen (wrist) will all miss out after starting in last Saturday's 23-25 loss to the Sharks at Newlands.
Elstadt (groin) is still not ready for battle, after missing the Sharks match.
"We had hoped that Rynhardt would be available for selection, but at this stage it doesn't look like it will happen," the WP coach said, adding: "He looks more likely to return for the Golden Lions game in two weeks' time. He'll be thoroughly assessed next Monday again."
That has been offset by the return of a couple Super Rugby stars, Vermeulen and loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff, both having recovered from knee injuries of differing severity.
Locks Don Armand and De Kock Steenkamp sat out training on Monday – to rest niggles from the weekend – but both will be fit to make the trip to Kimberley, according to the WP boss.
Said Coetzee: "Burton [Francis] took a bump to the knee and he went to see the specialist. He won't require an operation but it's badly bruised.
"We've got plenty flyhalf options in Gary van Aswegen, Demetri Catrakilis and Kurt Coleman. I just feel with Gary that he probably needs a bit of game time. I had a long chat with him and one option is for him to play a few club games [for the Maties].
"There's no doubting his talent, but it's just about getting his sharpness back.
"Both Demetri and Kurt played in the Vodacom Cup and Kurt, until recently, was playing for the Eagles in the First Division. Right now it's all about getting Gary as sharp as possible and he would achieve that playing club rugby.
"Joe [Pietersen] will be assessed again next Monday, but he's definitely out for this weekend. It's a scaphoid [wrist] problem – quite similar to that of Jean de Villiers. There's no tear or anything, but it's just badly bruised and a bit sensitive."
In the absence of Pietersen, Gio Aplon will more than likely move to fullback with a new left wing set to be named at Tuesday's team announcement.
