Nizaam Carr
DHL Western Province’s injury concerns have improved ahead of their Currie Cup Final against the Xerox Golden Lions at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.
Eighthman Nizaam Carr, who cried off with a hip injury midway through the first half of the Semi-Final clash against the Vodacom Blue Bulls last Saturday was walking comfortably on Monday afternoon.
Centre / fullback Jaco Taute was running without discomfort after he was forced to miss the Semi-Final because of a rib injury and was tested in a contact session on Tuesday.
Western Province coach Allister Coetzee said it was pleasing to read the team’s latest medical report because the wider training squad had been given a clean bill of health.
“Nemo (Carr) is feeling much better and is walking with ease,” Coetzee said.
rugbyweek
“We’ll have another look at him but there is a fair amount of optimism among the medical staff that he’ll be fit for the Final.
“He took a severe blow to the hip when he was cleaned out at a loose scrum.”
Sikhumbuzo Notshe, who played for just over an hour in the Semi-Final after standing in for Carr, also turned in a commendable performance.
However, Coetzee did not feel that Notshe, unlike Michael van der Spuy (who performed in Taute’s absence), could challenge for a run-on berth.
“Losing Carr was disruptive because he’s an integral part of the way we want to play,” Coetzee said.
“He’s had a fantastic season and he proved to be a phenomenal player. He is one of our prime ball carriers, and he’s also a link between the backs and forwards.
“Notshe has done well and as a backup player he did what was required of him. He’s our best bet for a back-up No 8.”
With Carr set to return, Coetzee is unlikely to tamper with his loose-trio combination which included Michael Rhodes and Rynhardt Elstadt.
Although the duo played mostly in the second row this season, their move to the flanks paid handsome dividends.
“Our loose trio really functioned well and these are the guys we’ll take with us into the Final,” he said.
“Rynhardt made a staggering 22 tackles and played well towards the ball.
“Michael was massive with his ball-carrying ability and both gave us added grunt upfront. They are proving to be the ideal combination.”
Coetzee said the game plan for the Final would not be based on what they thought the Golden Lions were capable of doing.
“We won’t do things in the Final based on what the Lions do,” Coetzee said.
“We know they have a ball-in-hand approach and they’ll ask questions all over the pitch, rather than in only certain areas.
“They play with a lot of freedom and when they concede a score, they don’t feel the pressure – they come back straight at you.”
Will be great if Nemo (Carr) is fit to play on the weekend!
I want him as well as a number of Golden Lions players… Jaco Kriel (loosie), Schalk van der Merwe (looshead prop), Ruan Dreyer (tighthead prop), Julian Redelinghuys (tighthead prop) and Marnitz Boshoff (flyhalf) included in the Springbok squad for the End Of Year Tours!
Jaco Kriel was also nursing a bit of an early week injury….
No Warren Whitely in your possibles from Saturday’s game? But I would also like to see the likes of Kolbe and Senatla in the mix. But maybe they do not fit Meyer’s blue print?
2 @ Lion4ever:
Look, I think Warren Whiteley is good… I just think Jaco Kriel is really, really good… same with Carr.
There are just so many places in the loosies for the Springbok End Of Year Tour squad… that’s what it ultimately boils down to.
I think Jaco Kriel has been in sublime form this whole year… actually for longer than this year alone.
Jeeez I think he would make a fantastic Blitzbokke Sevens player too… big, strong, extremely fast, great hands, excellent options he takes, plays space nicely. A proper thinking player!
Your coach Johan Ackermann is turning out to be a bloody good coach and with Streauli there at the Lions I think you chaps will finally be contracting right to have proper depth for Super Rugby too.
The Lions front row stock is fantastic, excellent loosehead in Schalk van der Merwe, 2 excellent tighthead props in Ruan Dreyer and Julian Redelinghuys and your 2 hookers are really doing the business too.
2 @ Lion4ever:
Kolbe & Senatla must be close to the Bokke possibles too!
GO PROVINCE!
good news if nizaam is fit… i thought he was a gonna…
i just hope he really is fit… and not just manning-up and playing through the pain… we need him 100 per cent…
nizaam is vital… the fans consoled…
and we’re on our knees… looking for the answers…
are we human… or are we prooovince…? 😎
@ gunther:
Oh my greatness!
That warms the cockles of my heart. 😆
@ ufo:
I’m sure AC will push him through a pretty severe fitness test. This is a must-win game, finish and klaar.
The Province thread is dominating. As it should.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
😆
@ IAAS:
It’s only temporary.
😆
@ gunther:
I fully understand, no need to explain.
Some of my best mates are Bulls supporters. 😆
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