Cape Town - WP backline coach Robbie Fleck is happy with the boost they received with the return of Gio Aplon and Juan de Jongh from the Springboks.
The Springbok management waited until late on Tuesday to release the pair to WP for their Currie Cup clash against the Golden Lions at Newlands on Friday night.
That was a decision WP coach Allister Coetzee was not over the moon with, as it denied him the opportunity to include the duo in his starting line-up for Friday's clash. "They haven't practiced with us yet, so there's no way we could just pick them in the starting team," Coetzee was quoted as saying.
However, Fleck has decided to view the situation from a positive perspective.
"Those two guys will be able to strengthen almost any side and amongst our ranks they could make a huge difference," Fleck told Die Burger newspaper.
"Both of them not only have experience, both also posses that X-factor that helps win matches.
"We will try and send them on from the bench as quick as possible," said Fleck.
The WP management know that they will probably only have the duo for this weekend's clash - as both is expected to go to the World Cup.
But whatever disruption that could have within the WP team environment, does not bother the former Bok centre.
"Whatever disruption it could cause, their presence on Friday night will more than make up for it," said Fleck.
Teams:
Western Province:
15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie (captain), 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Quinn Roux, 19 Nick Fenton-Wells, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Gio Aplon
Golden Lions:
15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Michael Rhodes, 19 Warren Whiteley, 20 Rudy Paige, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Jannie Boshoff
The Springbok management waited until late on Tuesday to release the pair to WP for their Currie Cup clash against the Golden Lions at Newlands on Friday night.
That was a decision WP coach Allister Coetzee was not over the moon with, as it denied him the opportunity to include the duo in his starting line-up for Friday's clash. "They haven't practiced with us yet, so there's no way we could just pick them in the starting team," Coetzee was quoted as saying.
However, Fleck has decided to view the situation from a positive perspective.
"Those two guys will be able to strengthen almost any side and amongst our ranks they could make a huge difference," Fleck told Die Burger newspaper.
"Both of them not only have experience, both also posses that X-factor that helps win matches.
"We will try and send them on from the bench as quick as possible," said Fleck.
The WP management know that they will probably only have the duo for this weekend's clash - as both is expected to go to the World Cup.
But whatever disruption that could have within the WP team environment, does not bother the former Bok centre.
"Whatever disruption it could cause, their presence on Friday night will more than make up for it," said Fleck.
Teams:
Western Province:
15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie (captain), 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Quinn Roux, 19 Nick Fenton-Wells, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Gio Aplon
Golden Lions:
15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Michael Rhodes, 19 Warren Whiteley, 20 Rudy Paige, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Jannie Boshoff