Western Province assistant coach Dawie Snyman expects their returning Springboks to fit in seamlessly ahead of their clash against the Blue Bulls in Pretoria. DYLAN JACK reports.
Province are seeking a single log point from Saturday’s Currie Cup match against the third-placed Bulls to ensure they finish top of the table.
‘One or two of them trained today and some who played on Saturday [against the All Blacks] did not. They should be back tomorrow,’ Snyman said when asked about WP’s Boks.
‘A lot of them have been a part of our squad. Wilco [Louw] played for us against the Pumas and Griquas, Damian [Willemse] played against Griquas and [Sikhumbuzo] Notshe played a few games.
‘They are guys who are used to what we do and how we play. It is not as if they are coming in from outside and they don’t know what we are doing.’
Willemse, who came off the bench as a replacement for Springbok fullback Willie le Roux in the loss to the All Blacks, should be available for Saturday’s match, but Snyman said they have yet to decide where he will play.
‘Obviously, the Springboks have had a look at him as a fullback. He played fullback for us against Griquas and in last year’s final. But his best games in Super Rugby came as a flyhalf. So we will have to see how the week goes.
‘Damian is a special player so it does not matter if he plays as a No 10 or a fullback. What is nice about someone who can play those positions, is that he can play as a first receiver and in the wider channels as well. So we can use him in different ways.’
Snyman is expecting a tough encounter against a Bulls side that he says has flown under the radar.
‘They will be well prepared. They have had three weeks off and will be ready for this game.
‘They have been quite quiet but still had a very good Currie Cup so people have not been paying attention to them. They could have beat the Sharks in Durban and gave a good Cheetahs team a hiding in Bloemfontein. It is a good team and they will want to prove a point at Loftus.’
Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images
