De Wet versus Duvenage face-off critical in Craven cauldron
Dewaldt Otto Duvenage is a 34-year-old veteran with almost two decades on the first-class stage.
His face-off with former protégé Albertus Paul de Wet could be key to the United Rugby Championship encounter between the Stormers and Benetton in Stellenbosch on Friday.
The Stormers – one of seven teams, along with Leinster, Ulster, Glasgow, Munster, Connacht and the Bulls have already booked their quarterfinal places.
However, the ninth-placed Benetton side will be looking for a massive points difference win and a favour or two from Munster in Durban to allow them to overtake the Sharks in the race for the final play-off spot.
The scrumhalf battle – apart from its importance – is also going to be an encounter between two former Stormers teammates.
De Wet studied at Stellenbosch and ‘enjoyed’ his time in the Western Cape student town.
That is why it will be a ‘special’ occasion when he runs out at the Danie Craven Stadium on Friday for his 50th Stormers cap, having made his senior debut for Western Province back in 2017.
(Article continues below Paul de Wet interview …)
“He was my senior when I started playing for the Stormers,” the 27-year-old scrumhalf said.
“He helped me a lot.”
In their only previous encounter Benetton 22-18 in Treviso.
De Wet and Duvenage went head-to-head in that encounter as well.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said of his friend, who he described as a ‘good’ player and a great guy.
“It’s a nice challenge,” he said of facing off against a man who has played 350 first-class games between the Boland Cavaliers (20-odd games), Western Province (60-odd games), Stormers (90-odd), Perpignan (70-odd) and Benetton (100-plus).
“I have a lot of respect for Dewaldt [Duvenage],” De Wet added.
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