Dobson: Venter keen to flank for WP

07/12/2024 09:13 AM

John Dobson says that Andre-Hugo Venter has returned from the Springbok camp eager to embrace the chance to play in the back row in Western Province’s clash with the Cheetahs.

Venter, who has spent time with the Springboks during the July internationals, has been named on the bench for Province’s match against the defending Currie Cup champions in Bloemfontein.

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The 22-year-old will, however, don the No 19 jersey, as Scarra Ntubeni will be the backup hooker, meaning that he will get some time at openside flank, ahead of a potential Test debut against Portugal at the same venue next Saturday.

“There was a desire that Andre-Hugo got some game time just in case there’s a call for him at national level next week,” Dobson explained.

“He wants to play at number 6 and we have a similar experience there with Deon Fourie, so I think it’s a good opportunity for us as well, to get him into that position.

“[Hendre] Stassen will cover lock from the flank. There isn’t another senior Currie Cup-level lock around for us.”

The trip to the city of roses, following the narrow opening-round loss to the Vodacom Bulls in torrential rain at Cape Town Stadium, presents WP with an opportunity for an emphatic rebound.

“We will be a lot better for the experience that we had last week,” Dobson said. “The Bulls had played one or two friendlies before that game and we didn’t, so we probably paid a bit of a price.

“We will be much better tomorrow. It’s going to be the game that we need. In those conditions, playing Stormers rugby, guys like Jurie [Matthee] and Imad [Khan] won’t have the same experience they had last week.

“As poor as it was to lose our opening game, we will be good tomorrow. We are going for the W, even though we have 33 guys here who are not in the mix, like Blomme, Zas and Ben Loader. To be minus 33 players and still getting the win would be very special for us.”

Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images

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