Some good news out of Bloemfontein this week is that Bok prop Coenie Oosthuizen has survived his first few live scrums of the season.
“Coenie looked very good in practices and we are full of confidence he will be able to play against the Sharks next week,” coach Naka Drotske told supersport.com.
Oosthuizen did not play in any of the Cheetahs warm-up games, but seems likely to be included in the starting line-up for their Super Rugby match against the Sharks.
Having lost WP Nel and Marcel van der Merwe, you might understand Drotske’s worry with regard to his front row depth.
But into the squad have come Rossouw de Klerk (from the Blue Bulls)and Caylib Oosthuizen (from the Lions), adding to existing props Lourens Adriaanse, Trevor Nyakane, and Oosthuizen, so perhaps the worry is misguided?
Bok coach Heyneke Meyer is a known fan and keen to see the big man as a regular in the Bok team, while Cheetahs scrum coach Os du Randt is also itching to see Oosthuizen develop as a tighthead.
And perhaps the pressure being put on the young prop has seen him come back from injury too soon in the past? One has to hope that the same is not happening now. As a prop, you simply cannot mess with neck and back injuries.
But the specialist handling Oosthuizen has cleared him to play, and Drotske is happy with the progress he is making on the field.
