Injuries force Allister Coetzee to bring in Demetri Catrakilis: Currie Cup 2011 – Rugby Union
South Africa Rugby Union’s (SARU) provincial state side, Western Provinces, has announced that the 22-year-old Demetri Catrakilis will take the field against the Leopards’ in their second match of the 2011 ABSA Currie Cup. Leopards will host the Provinces
at Olen Park, Potchefstroom, on Friday, July 22.
Coetzee has announced the squad on Tuesday, July 19 in a statement released on the club’s official website. He was forced to name Demetri Catrakilis at the fly half position after their first choice fly half, Gary van Aswegen, sustained a knee injury in
their 2011 Currie Cup opener against the Griquas on Saturday, July 16.
Demetri Catrakilis had already made his debut for the Western Provinces as he took the field as a substitute replacing injured Gary van Aswegen in their last weekend encounter at the Griquas.
Coetzee, who is missing most of his top players due to their national duty for Springboks, has taken an aggressive approach to tackle the fly half crisis at the club. He added, “Fly half certainly has been our bogey position this season with Grant, Van Aswegen,
Cronje, Coleman and stand-in Duvenage all suffering injuries.”
Catrakilis faced some tough competition from Boland’s Isma-eel Dollie for the role of the first choice fly half in the side.
Coetzee has closely monitored the performance, control, ball handling, and game controlling skills and abilities of both players in the training sessions. Although it was a tough call for the coach, Catrakilis prevailed thanks to his excellent goal kicking
abilities and turned out to be the best choice for Coetzee.
Coetzee termed Catrakilis goal kicking skills as the “most accurate place-kicker in our system.” Commenting on Isma-eel Dollie, he said, “He's (Dollie) a talented player and it's my duty to provide him with an opportunity to show what he can do at this (Currie
Cup) level.”
Isma-eel Dollie will start the match on the bench, as he will be eagerly anticipating a chance to take the field later in the game.
Western Provinces captain Deon Fourie has expressed hope that his young side will try their best to win their upcoming weekend’s game. He added that the team during the week has worked hard to address the shortcomings identified in their last weekend game
against the Griquas.
The Western Provinces squad announced for their Leopards clash includes,
Starting XV: 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 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3
Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Adriaan Fondse, 19 Nicholas Fenton-Wells, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Isma-eel Dollie, 22 Marcel Brache.
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