WP to fight for Catrakilis
Western Province coach Allister Coetzee may have let Burton Francis go, but he will fight a little harder to keep the services of Demetri Catrakilis.
While Province have been hit hard by injuries this season, they have no such issues at flyhalf where there were simply too many options for Coetzee to choose from, which resulted in Francis moving on to the South Western Districts Eagles.
The former Bulls and Lions pivot deputised for Peter Grant for most of the Stormers' Super Rugby campaign, but since the return of Catrakilis, Kurt Coleman and Gary van Aswegen from injury he has had to move on.
"Burton never had a contract with us and you must understand that we have got guys like Gary van Aswegen and Kurt Coleman who are under contract with us.
"Gary was injured and that is why Burton wanted to stay around to see if he can make it and Demetri was also injured and he is also back from an injury but I must say that Demetri took his opportunity," Coetzee explained.
Catrakilis has produced some convincing performances in the Currie Cup, and Coetzee admitted that although he intends to move to the Kings at the end of the season, Province will not let him go all that easily.
"At this point in time he has got an offer at the Kings, I am sure as I understand it that it is up to us to match it and whether we can match it but he is really doing well and I would like him to continue playing like he has been playing," he said.
Coetzee's inexperienced side find themselves at the top of the Currie Cup standings at the halfway point in the competition, but they face another big challenge this weekend when they travel to Durban to take on the Sharks.
"We have got to continue and keep the winning culture going. We haven't beaten the Sharks this year and it is never easy at Kings Park so it is another challenge for us and we want to get it right this time," said Coetzee.
The Province coach said that continuity will be important if his side are to carry their encouraging form into the second half of the competition.
"With the injury situation we keep changing the side and I would like to have a bit of continuity as well. One thing you malways think as a coach is when a team is winning, why must you change it?
"We want to start better in the second round and we want to continue improving our game. It is good to blood youngsters when you are winning. It makes it easier, they get confidence, they believe in each other and they believe in the plan and themselves," he said.