Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer

Cape Town – All Blacks lock Chris Jack arrived in Cape Town early on Friday to bolster Western Province ahead of their 2009 Currie Cup campaign.

The 30-year-old, looking relaxed in shorts and a sweatshirt in defiance of the Cape winter, was met by WP team manager Chippie Solomon after his flight from London.

Movie actor Jeremy Irons was on the same British Airways flight, though presumably not on the “capture” list by Province, who also recently added experienced former Bulls and Bath centre Frikkie Welsh to their plans.

Chances are probably good that, fitness permitting, Jack will be pitched straight into battle when Province host champions the Sharks in their opener at Newlands next Saturday, although WP officials could not be reached for immediate comment.

The 67-cap Test veteran, who had spent two seasons with Saracens in England, turned out for the Barbarians against Australia at Sydney last month, so ought to be in at least a reasonable state of match readiness.

Jack, who stands 2.02m tall and weighs 115kg, is scheduled to play the entire Currie Cup campaign for WP, before returning to the Crusaders for the Super 14 next year – he has also re-signed with the NZRU until 2011.

Province are under pressure to improve significantly in this year’s competition, after the sleeping-giant union missed the semi-final cut in both 2008 and 2007.

A blessing in disguise for them, perhaps, was the indignity of having no representatives at all in the Springbok match 22 for the third Test against the British and Irish Lions at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday.

It should mean that WP field a side much closer to full strength for big portions of the Currie Cup than other big rivals like the Sharks and Bulls, who will miss many of their Bok stars.