WP hoping Kitshoff can help tame Lions in their den

Western Province might call on the services of double World Cup-winning prop Steven Kitshoff for their next Currie Cup clash, if he is medically cleared and gets permission from the Springboks to play.

The Cape side are eager to beef up their stocks with some experienced players as the Currie Cup moves into a pivotal stage, and after Saturday’s 26-19 loss against the Cheetahs, Province are now in a do-or-die situation in the tournament.

Kitshoff hasn’t had a single bit of rugby since picking up an injury at Ulster during the United Rugby Championship earlier this year and missed all of the Springbok mid-year Tests after returning to South Africa to link up with Stormers Rugby again after a year in Ireland.

He’s been training with WP but hasn’t received the green light to play.

Dawie Snyman, WP assistant coach, said after his side’s loss to the Cheetahs that Kitshoff is eager to play, and they might rope him in this coming weekend when they face the Lions in Johannesburg.

The Boks’ next Test at home is against New Zealand at Ellis Park, and a first game in the Lions’ den might be the warm-up Kitshoff needs to test his rugby lungs at altitude.

“Maybe it’s good that he goes to Ellis Park and runs around for a bit to see if he’s done his work,” Snyman said.

“It is the plan that he is close to playing again, but we just have to check with ours and the Springbok medical team to see if he is 100% ready (to play).”

Province again had a healthy lead against the Cheetahs after going 13-0 up, but a late surge in the first half and a strike in the first minute after half-time saw the defending champions claw their way back to clinch the match.

The game was played in wintry conditions at Cape Town Stadium and WP adapted better initially, but then lost the plot as the game continued. It wasn’t the first time the Cape side gave up a good lead this season to lose a game, and Snyman put it down to a possible lack of experience.

“Some of the players are not used to being in those scenarios and they are playing against good teams. We also want this type of experience for the players, because there is growth. But we need those 80-minute performances to get to the play-offs.

“We have the plans to put teams under pressure ‒ you could see in the first half how we got it right. It’s just now about putting that second half together and getting over the line.”

Cheetahs coach Izak van der Westhuizen was chuffed with the fight his side showed to claim the crucial five points in tough conditions.

But he said that the competition would only get tougher after completing the pool stages against the Bulls, WP and Griffons with only one loss.

“The guys showed a lot of character and we wanted to play running rugby, but the conditions did not allow it. But they still found a way to win. We are not used to these conditions, you can’t prepare for it. It’s wet and slippery and when we were walking in here, the wind was swirling.

“It was tough, so the guys did a good job.”