Cape Town - Free State Cheetahs flank Boom Prinsloo is being targeted by the Western Province forwards ahead of Saturday’s Currie Cup clash between the sides at Newlands.
Prinsloo was one of the standout players for the Cheetahs in Super Rugby, scoring eight tries throughout the season, and he can expect to be surrounded by blue and white jerseys - if WP lock Jean Kleyn has anything to do with it.
“Boom is on every ruck so there’s a big target on his back. From our entire forward pack, I think we all want a piece of him,” Kleyn said on Thursday.
Kleyn earned 13 Super Rugby caps himself this season, and he spoke about how good it was for him to work with Bok lock Eben Etzebeth.
“I’m just enjoying playing a lot of rugby and hopefully I’ll be playing a lot of rugby throughout the season,” he said.
“Eben is a fantastic player. If I could reach his level I would be stoked ... I’m just aspiring to be as good as he is.”
For now, though, Kleyn is partnering Ruan Botha and is likely to do so throughout the Currie Cup, injury permitting.
“He (Botha) is a good lock. His decision making process has, in my opinion, become a lot better over the last two years. I really enjoy working with him on the field,” said Kleyn.
Kick-off on Saturday is at 15:00.
Teams:
Western Province
15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oli Kebble
Substitutes: 16 Marius Fourie, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Jan de Klerk, 19 Chris Cloete, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Kobus van Wyk
Free State Cheetahs
15 AJ Coertzen, 14 Clayton Blommetjies, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Armandt Koster, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen
Substitutes: 16 Elandre Huggett, 17 Maks van Dyk, 18 Reniel Hugo, 19 Gerhard Olivier, 20 Zee Mkabela, 21 Tertius Kruger, 22 Sias Ebersohn