Ebersohn a Bok in the making
2008-09-04 22:29
Stephen Nell
Cape Town - Jean de Villiers, Springbok centre and captain of the Western Province rugby team, believes a young player that he will be crossing swords with on Saturday could possibly play for South Africa one day.
Robert Ebersohn (19) is one of the talented young players in this year's Currie Cup series and has caught even De Villiers's eye.
"I think Ebersohn is one of the outstanding players in this year's Currie Cup series and will play for the Boks one day," De Villiers said in the Mother City this week.
"He is a very impressive player. His defence is good and he also has experience in Sevens rugby.
"What more could you want than a player who is good at both attacking and defending"
"I remember attending a social event at Paul Roos Gymnasium during Craven Week. I chatted to all the centres, and young Ebersohn was there."
De Villiers and the experienced Gcobani Bobo will battle it out in the midfield against the Cheetahs' Ebersohn and Meyer Bosman.
While WP with their Boks appear on paper to be the strongest side, there are other factors that count heavily in the hosts' favour.
Still combine very smoothly
The fact that the only returning Boks are Juan Smith (flank) and Adriaan Strauss (hooker) means that the Cheetahs should still combine very smoothly as a team overall.
Besides, Naka Drotské's team have won their last five matches, and in this particular clash players will be very hungry to show their mettle against WP's big names.
"The Cheetahs play a good style of rugby and I am really impressed with what I've seen of them," De Villiers said.
For example, the Cheetahs will feel that their loose trio, Duane Vermeulen, Juan Smith and Hendro Scholtz, can hold their own against the likes of Luke Watson, Francois Louw and Schalk Burger.
While it has been widely reported that Vermeulen may play for the Stormers next season, for now he remains a key player in the Cheetahs' offensive to ensure that the Currie Cup stays in Bloemfontein.
The front row also promises to provide a few interesting duels, with Brian Mujati and Wian du Preez locking horns in the scrums.
WP hooker Schalk Brits has already said this week that he has nothing to prove. But it will undoubtedly have concerned him that he has had to make way for Adriaan Strauss in the Bok squad.
On the part of the Cheetahs, Bosman at inside centre and fullback Bevin Fortuin will also be geared up to show that their Bok days are far from over.
Bosman, who turned in good performances in the Super 14 series this year, was included in the initial Bok training squad of 42. However, owing to a hamstring injury he was not available for the Tests against Wales or Italy.