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Cape Town - Western Province coach, Allister Coetzee has had to endure trying times of late in their Currie Cup campaign this season.
Injuries are not an uncommon occurrence in sport, but Province have had their fair share to deal with this season.
The news that prop, Wicus Blaauw will be sidelined for the rest of the season has given Coetzee yet another headache ahead of Province’s crucial clash against the Blue Bulls at Loftus on Saturday.
He may be forced to recall players returning from injury earlier than expected.
“When I hear about injuries, I get grumpy. JC Kritzinger is also not ready, another two to three weeks. But I am very excited about Steven Kitshoff, and we can call up JD Moller and Brummer Badenhorst, Quinn Roux has a stiff neck, but will train on Tuesday. De Kock Steenkamp will be back too. Pieter Louw is not ready about two weeks. Kurt Coleman is next week and he could play for the under-21’s,” Coetzee said in Tuesday’s Cape Times.
However, Coetzee does welcome flyhalf, Lionel Cronje, back to the squad after a lengthy injury layout and came through a club match unscathed, but is unlikely to start as Coetzee contemplates his pivot options, hinting that he may stick with Dollie at the weekend.
“There’s a lot of work to be done still and in all fairness, it was (Dollie’s) first outing.
"Fortunately, we have the time to try and sort it out and that will even improve our game," he added.
Coetzee leaped to Dollie's defense after first expressing his dissatisfaction at his team's poor start against the Leopards on Saturday.
"In general, we attacked well and actually scored good tries. There’s a lot that we’re doing right and a lot that we can still improve on, especially with the injuries and Isma-eel slotting in for the first time. And we know what we have in Dewaldt. Lionel has had game time (at club level) and we will study the opposition and make our decisions. We have to decide if it’s going to be a 4-3 split or 5-2.”
Injuries are not an uncommon occurrence in sport, but Province have had their fair share to deal with this season.
The news that prop, Wicus Blaauw will be sidelined for the rest of the season has given Coetzee yet another headache ahead of Province’s crucial clash against the Blue Bulls at Loftus on Saturday.
He may be forced to recall players returning from injury earlier than expected.
“When I hear about injuries, I get grumpy. JC Kritzinger is also not ready, another two to three weeks. But I am very excited about Steven Kitshoff, and we can call up JD Moller and Brummer Badenhorst, Quinn Roux has a stiff neck, but will train on Tuesday. De Kock Steenkamp will be back too. Pieter Louw is not ready about two weeks. Kurt Coleman is next week and he could play for the under-21’s,” Coetzee said in Tuesday’s Cape Times.
However, Coetzee does welcome flyhalf, Lionel Cronje, back to the squad after a lengthy injury layout and came through a club match unscathed, but is unlikely to start as Coetzee contemplates his pivot options, hinting that he may stick with Dollie at the weekend.
“There’s a lot of work to be done still and in all fairness, it was (Dollie’s) first outing.
"Fortunately, we have the time to try and sort it out and that will even improve our game," he added.
Coetzee leaped to Dollie's defense after first expressing his dissatisfaction at his team's poor start against the Leopards on Saturday.
"In general, we attacked well and actually scored good tries. There’s a lot that we’re doing right and a lot that we can still improve on, especially with the injuries and Isma-eel slotting in for the first time. And we know what we have in Dewaldt. Lionel has had game time (at club level) and we will study the opposition and make our decisions. We have to decide if it’s going to be a 4-3 split or 5-2.”
