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Cape Town - Speedster Seabelo Senatla says he feels blessed to play for Western Province as they prepare for Saturday's Currie Cup final against the Golden Lions at Newlands.
Senatla, 21, has vast experience as a sevens player, having starred for the Blitzbokke on the Sevens World Series circuit.
But this season he has been given the chance to showcase his talents in the 15-man game for Western Province and has been one of the finds of the season.
“It’s always been a goal of mine to play in a Currie Cup final," he told the WP Rugby website. "I’m blessed to be involved in the final and also lucky to be part of a team like this… Since I’ve arrived at Western Province, the guys have welcomed me with open arms and I’ve just loved every minute of my stay in Cape Town. I’m so glad I decided to join a team with such a good culture."
Senatla also hopes his experience in sevens finals will stand him in good stead on Saturday.
“A Currie Cup final is very different to a sevens final as it’s the culmination of a season’s worth of work and planning. It’s different in many ways, but the experience of playing in a few sevens finals - like at the Commonwealth Games - has allowed me to experience pressure at the highest level."
Senatla also harbours hopes of representing his country in the 15-man game and revealed who his rugby hero is.
“Growing up I’d always supported Bryan Habana, which is one of the reasons why I came here. Now, however, I understand even more what a great union like Western Province is all about - what the Disa and this team stands for - and it’s even more special than I thought it would be.
“Bryan Habana has achieved plenty as a player, here at WP and internationally, and I’ve already leaned on him to extract as much information as possible (from him).”
Saturday's Currie Cup final kicks off at 17:00.
Teams:
Western Province:
15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Alistair Vermaak
Substitutes: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Brok Harris, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Michael van der Spuy
Golden Lions:
15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Willie Britz, 20 Warwick Tecklenburg, 21 Mark Richards, 22 Harold Vorster
Senatla, 21, has vast experience as a sevens player, having starred for the Blitzbokke on the Sevens World Series circuit.
But this season he has been given the chance to showcase his talents in the 15-man game for Western Province and has been one of the finds of the season.
“It’s always been a goal of mine to play in a Currie Cup final," he told the WP Rugby website. "I’m blessed to be involved in the final and also lucky to be part of a team like this… Since I’ve arrived at Western Province, the guys have welcomed me with open arms and I’ve just loved every minute of my stay in Cape Town. I’m so glad I decided to join a team with such a good culture."
Senatla also hopes his experience in sevens finals will stand him in good stead on Saturday.
“A Currie Cup final is very different to a sevens final as it’s the culmination of a season’s worth of work and planning. It’s different in many ways, but the experience of playing in a few sevens finals - like at the Commonwealth Games - has allowed me to experience pressure at the highest level."
Senatla also harbours hopes of representing his country in the 15-man game and revealed who his rugby hero is.
“Growing up I’d always supported Bryan Habana, which is one of the reasons why I came here. Now, however, I understand even more what a great union like Western Province is all about - what the Disa and this team stands for - and it’s even more special than I thought it would be.
“Bryan Habana has achieved plenty as a player, here at WP and internationally, and I’ve already leaned on him to extract as much information as possible (from him).”
Saturday's Currie Cup final kicks off at 17:00.
Teams:
Western Province:
15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Alistair Vermaak
Substitutes: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Brok Harris, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Michael van der Spuy
Golden Lions:
15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Willie Britz, 20 Warwick Tecklenburg, 21 Mark Richards, 22 Harold Vorster
