The call-up of Scarra Ntubeni to the national team for this weekend’s match against Argentina has caught Western Province coach John Dobson off-guard.
It now means Dobson will travel to Kimberley for tomorrow night’s vital Currie Cup clash against Griquas at 7pm with a replacement hooker, Schalk Erasmus, who he “only met his week”.
Still, Dobson is “thrilled” that Ntubeni is in line to make his Test debut and “grateful” to Rassie Erasmus for finally giving him a chance.
But it has come at the expense of his team who is in a must-win scenario against the log-leaders.
DESERVED: Springbok call-up Scarra Ntubeni, right. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix.
Not only did they lose Ntubeni, but Dillyn Leyds, Siya Kolisi and Wilco Louw have all been called up for national duty this week.
Dobson says: “A bit more notice could have been useful in terms of useful in terms of getting another hooker ready.
“But I think we’ve done really well by putting our bench on, I didn’t expect to lose Scarra [Ntubeni] this week, but we got Chad [Solomon] on nice and early, we got Kwenzo [Blose] on.”
Solomon will be the man tasked to wear the No.2 jumper for Province and will share the front row with Carlu Sadie, who comes in for Louw.
CONFIDENT: WP boss John Dobson is confident. Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix.
Of Solomon, Dobson says: “It’s a massive opportunity for Chad, we’ll know a lot more about him later on Friday night.
“Chad’s one of the best stealers around, he’s a good scrumming hooker and I wanted to give him a start in the Currie Cup.
“If we haven’t messed that Lions game up, a couple of guys would have gotten starts last week.”
Of Ntubeni’s call-up, he adds: “We’re thrilled for Scarra, the last tour he went on he had to carry his blazer of the shoulder and now we teased him this week that gemsbok can become a Springbok.
Western Province Squad:
15 SP Marais, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Josh Stander, 9 Justin Phillips, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 JD Schickerling, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Corne Fourie.
Replacements:
16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Damian Willemse, 23 Edwill van der Merwe.