Cape Town - Western Province backline coach, Robbie Fleck, says he was not surprised when the Golden Lions picked Alwyn Hollenbach at inside centre at the expense of Springbok, Butch James, for their Currie Cup semi-final clash at Coca-Cola Park.

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"It doesn't surprise me at all. Alwyn is the most underrated player in their group," Fleck told Die Burger newspaper.

"He executed 19 tackles when we took a hammering against them two weeks ago - it was the most of everyone in their team.

"The Lions also rely on Alwyn to give them go-forward momentum. An inside centre who manages that, puts his team on the front foot," said Fleck.

Fleck believes James has to compete with two of the best players in this year's Currie Cup for a place in the Lions' team - which makes it tough for him to make the starting line-up.

“Elton Jantjies is according to me the best attacking flyhalf in the series. And Alwyn is not only a good ball-carrier, but according to the statistics he's also a very good defender.

The former Bok centre reckons Hollenbach fits the description of a player you would want in a knockout-game.

“John Mitchell has been (as All Black-coach) in knockout-situations. "He knows defence and accuracy are of immense importance to achieve success. I think they will stick to their attacking approach and just make sure they are ready for us on defence."

Teams:

Golden Lions:
15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Doppies la Grange, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (captain), 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 CJ Van der Linde

Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Warren Whiteley, 19 Cobus Grobbelaar/Jaco Kriel, 20 Butch James, 21 Dylan Des Fountain, 22 James Kamana

Western Province:
15  Gio Aplon, 14 JJ Engelbrecht, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean De Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Schalk Burger (captain), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 JC Kritzinger

Substitutes: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Tertius Daniller, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Conrad Jantjes