WP out to stand their ground
Western Province know that they are not likely to beat the Blue Bulls at Newlands on Saturday if they allow the visitors to dominate up front.
The table-topping Cape side may start as clear favourites at home, but the selection of the imposing Rynhardt Elstadt at openside flank is as big a signal as any that they are not willing to be shoved around.
The Pretoria side have gathered some good momentum, winning their last three games to take the last semifinal spot, and Province have braced for the inevitable onslaught.
Coach Allister Coetzee admitted that it was a 'horses for courses' selection to counter the strong Blue Bulls driving maul, with Sikhumbuzo Notshe expected to come off the bench once the game opens up in the second half.
"It will be a physical battle, we have looked at the way we want to play more than anything else, we know what is coming.
"This is the best possible team that we have selected for what is coming our way. Rynhardt moving to lock and [Sikhumbuzo] Notshe coming off the bench will really give us some late impact.
"We know we have got to stop driving mauls – they are a mauling side," he said.
Coetzee dismissed concerns that his side would miss something at the breakdown, by explaining that Elstadt's brief is to hit as many rucks as possible.
"He is a four lock and he knows about playing to the ball. He has been selected for the job of really being aggressive at the breakdown and that is what he can do.
"When we talk about breakdown we also mean the attacking breakdown, and he has got an engine and gets to the breakdowns, that is his primary job this week – to secure quick ball for us," he said.
Tighthead prop Pat Cilliers said that his side have prepared to confront the powerful Blue Bulls pack and deny them front foot ball.
"They have got a huge power dominance from the forwards and that is for us to stop. We know they are going to come for us in the scrums and mauls and obviously coming around the ruck with our runners.
"The whole pack is built on momentum and we know that we have to face that on Saturday. There is no guessing game, we know who they are and we have to stop them," he said.
Cilliers said that whilst The Province forward pack's consistency this season has been encouraging, they cannot afford to hand the Bulls any momentum if they are to book a home final.
"I thought we have built really nicely throughout the season, we haven't really been penalised a lot, but again in saying that Saturday is a completely different challenge so on the day we are going to have to pitch up and anything can come," he said.
By Michael de Vries
