Bedevilled by injury and illness, Griquas will be ready for the Cheetahs
With a number of players suffering from `flu, small but niggling injuries, some still unfit after long-term injuries and this week's upheaval in the management with GWRU`s CEO, Cassie Carsten`s resignation, Griquas will have to weather the storm and show their resilience this Friday when they meet the Vodacom Vrystaat Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
With virtually all their returning Super-14 players suffering from injuries and still not match fit, and with a few of the players suffering from `flu, as well as some new small injuries, Wildeklawer Griquas are probably at their lowest point that they have been this season, or for many seasons for that matter with the availability of players to field a fit, competitive and winning team.
With luck, Coach Dawie Theron will have enough match fit players by Friday to give the Cheetahs a good and hard game.
Not being able to give a team for Friday, Coach Dawie is hoping that he will have enough fit players by then, notwithstanding that there are any more injuries at practice or that any other players go down with the `flu before the weekend, With players such as, forwards, Albertus Buckle and Hans van Dyck as well as, flyhalf Tobie Botes recovering from the `flu, and flanks Gareth Krause and Stephan Gerber both suffering from finger and hand injuries, a doubtful scrumhalf, Sarel Pretorius with a chest injury, and with as many as seven other players still on the injured list, he has his task set out for him to choose a really strong side to meet the Cheetahs at the weekend.
Although this may all sound as bit like "Doom and gloom," there is however some good news, and that is that Griquas have signed, forward Naas Olivier who has just returned from playing in France to a two year contract with the side. other good news is that young Dougie Helmuth who came on a minute into the second half at last week's game to replace scrum half, Sarel Pretorius and had a really good game with back row player Egon Seconds also showing lots of potential, given more game time.
Once Wildeklawer Griquas overcome there injury and fitness problems and the squad is up to full strength, we will see them returning to their former glory and live up to their reputation as one of the most unpredictable and dangerous sides in the Currie Cup tournament, until then, they will just have to rely on their good fortune and up and coming new players to carry the side.
Let's hope that they do just that in Bloemfontein this Friday.
Wildeklawer Griquas: Bjorn Basson, Gavin Passens, Lafras Uys, Riaan Viljoen, MJ Mentz, Naas Olivier, Sarel Pretorius, Heinrich Stride, Wayne van Heerden, Gareth Krause (c), Cilliers Coetzer, Brendon Snyman, Ruaan du Preez, Hans van Dyk and Albertus Buckle. Replacements: Jame van der Walt, Bees Roux, Jacques Lombaard, Rohan Kitshoff, Dougie Helmuth, Egon Seconds and Conrad Barnard.
Vodacom Cheetahs: Bevin Fortuin, Eddie Fredericks, Robert Ebersohn, Meyer Bosman, Fabian Juries, Chris Rossouw, Tewis de Bruyn, Duane Vermeulen, Kabamba Floors, Hendro Scholtz, (c), Barend Pieterse, David de Villiers, Kobus Calldo, Richard Strauss and Wian du Preez. Replacements: Riaan Kruger, Phillip Lemmer, Flip van der Merwe, Schalk van der Merwe, Neil Powell, JW Jonker, and Wilton Pietersen.
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