Western Province lock Salmaan Moerat is isolating for the second week running, after coming into contact with yet another Covid-19 positive case earlier this week.
Moerat missed last weekend’s 34-17 win over Griquas because of Covid-19 isolation and returned to training at WP on Monday, expecting to be part of the team for Saturday’s clash against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
But coach John Dobson, who is also without captain Siya Kolisi because of Covid isolation, explains: “Salmaan was with us on Monday, but then had to re-enter [isolation]. He had another contact, so it’s just really bad luck for him. So he is starting a new [isolation period] from Tuesday.
“So Salmaan was not eligible this week – we thought he was going to be [eligible] because he finished his first isolation on the weekend.”
Chris van Zyl partnered JD Schickerling in the second row against Griquas, but Dobson opted to go for Meihuizen instead this week in the only change to the XV.
Hunting a home semifinal, Dobson knows how important victory for his second-placed is on Saturday.
The Cheetahs are in fifth place – five points behind WP, with Dobson saying: “We’re in a position where we can end up one to five... we always knew one of the big five was going to lose out.
“We see this game as an opportunity to wrap up a semi [spot] and then just start talking about where we want to be next week.”
The Pumas, meanwhile, host the Lions at 2pm on Saturday, with the Sharks v Griquas also at 4.30pm. Meihuizen in as Salmaan isolates again
dudley.carstens@inl.coza