The value WP lost when Wiese left
SPOTLIGHT: Western Province may not have been able to do much about his departure, but the loss of the value Cobus Wiese can add to a team was clearly illustrated the past fortnight.
As the maxim goes: ‘You don’t realise what you have until you lose it.’
Wiese was not always a regular starter in Cape Town – be that the Stormers or WP.
However, he would have been handy in the 20-22 loss to the Bulls in their brutal Currie Cup Round One match at Newlands this past weekend.
Wiese moved to the English Premiership side Sale Sharks ahead of the 2020–21 season.
He has featured in both their matches this season – a 32-23 win over Northampton Saints and a 13-15 loss to Newcastle Falcons, playing 133 minutes.
Wiese has racked up some impressive stats in those two outings.
He made 18 tackles against the Falcons this past weekend, for a Premiership season total of 33.
Add in his four line-outs won against the Falcons (seven for the season) and you are beginning to get a sense of his real value.
Wiese, one of 11 South Africans in the Sale squad, played at lock in both matches.
His brother Jasper, playing for Leicester Tigers, is another player who will be missed by his former South African team – the Cheetahs.
Jasper Wiese made 12 tackles in the Tigers’ 9-22 Round Two loss to London Irish.
However, it is his ball-carrying ability that really made him stand out.
Jasper Wiese made 15 carries against the Exiles for 65 metres and three defenders beaten – 26 carries for the season, for 138 metres.
Premiership stats at a glance …
