WP call on experience to prop ‘em up

Western Province have called in some Currie Cup reinforcements for their duel with the Bulls this weekend in Pretoria. After picking up their first win with a healthy 10-try demolition of the Griffons, the WP head to Loftus Versfeld on Saturday for a rematch of the opening round, where they narrowly lost to the undefeated Bulls earlier this month.

This time around, it won’t be with a very inexperienced squad with a host of forwards returning, while some thought will also go into bringing some of the regular backline players into the mix as well. Front-rowers Lizo Gqoboka – a former Bulls player, Sti Sithole and Sazi Sandi are back in training.

“We are still finalising the selection,” forwards coach Rito Hlungwani, said yesterday, “but we might have a couple of boys back.

“In saying that, we are happy that the young guys got a run-out and they could scrum against older players. We want to make sure we have a nice, solid scrum going to Pretoria.”

During last year’s tournament, a young WP side went up to Loftus and beat the Bulls. On Saturday, the mission will not change but the Cape-based side also know that they are working on a bigger picture and looking at getting their fringe players conditioned to top-flight rugby, with an eye on the Stormers’ season.

Hlungwani added that they won’t wander off the path of giving their young players more experience and that they’re pleased with how they are going, despite two early losses in the competition. Nevertheless, WP jumped to fifth on the log, thanks to the 64-15 win in Welkom, but Hlungwani believes the big test for the young guns comes this weekend.

“Yes, we have been happy with their progress in the Currie Cup, but in saying that, you want to test them against a team like the Bulls, a well-coached team. You want to see them putting their hand up against a very well-organised, very physical, and highly experienced team.

“That is another level I want them to go to. To try and compete against a very strong team.”