Cape Town – Western Province coach John Dobson says the team will be buoyed by the return of Siya Kolisi for Saturday’s Currie Cup clash against the Pumas at Newlands.
The Springbok captain has been out of action since May after suffering a knee injury towards the end of the Stormers’ Super Rugby campaign.
He has been training with Province in recent weeks, however, and looks ready to return on the weekend.
WP can ill afford any more losses in their Currie Cup campaign, particularly at home against the Pumas, with far more tougher challenges lying in wait.
“Siya is fit to play,” said Dobson. “We’ll have to see, but now our plan with Siya is to start him. He will give the team a lot of confidence, and that’s the one thing the team needs.”
Dobson said Kolisi’s presence alone will make a big different to the team.
“When you lose a game, no matter you have deserved to win it, the change-room is like a mortuary afterwards. Just his presence will make a big difference,” Dobson said. “A lot of guys would see coming back to the Currie Cup as a downgrade, but not Siya. He’s been absolutely great.”
Dobson also confirmed that SP Marais and Jean-Luc du Plessis will be available for the Pumas game, but said Marais will be held back for the Griquas game next week.
The coach was confident that some of the frustrating defeats they’ve suffered this season, including a heartbreaking two-point loss against the Lions last time out, are now behind them.
“There’s a sense of frustration because we’ve underachieved, but we know if we get 15 (points) from the next three games we’ll be very well-positioned,” he said.
“I think we’ve turned the corner, in fact I’m convinced we’ve turned the corner.”
Kick-off is at 15:00.
