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Cape Town – Western Province have pulled off a coup by securing the services of young Australian flyhalf sensation Matt Toomua for the rest of the Currie Cup.
Toomua made his Super14 debut as an 18-year-old for the Brumbies against the Hurricanes last year.
He played regularly for the Brumbies this year and could be a shock inclusion in WP’s squad for Saturday’s Currie Cup clash against Griquas at Newlands.
Peter Grant is WP’s first choice player at flyhalf, while Conrad Hoffmann is being groomed in the position and will play a club game there this week.
The move to gain the 19-year-olf Toomua’s services in the short term follows after the prognosis on Willem de Waal’s neck injury went from 6 weeks to as many months on the sidelines.
Toomua will provide crucial depth for WP should they pick up further problems at flyhalf. It even provides WP with an opportunity to wrap Grant in cotton wool before an expected semi-final.
On top of that, it shows how serious WP are taking this year’s Currie Cup.
Province have already secured the services of South Africa under-21 flyhalf Lionel Cronjé for next year.
According to the Brumbies’ website, Toomua attended Queensland’s Brisbane State High School, which produced big name players such as Mark Bartholomeusz, Paul Carozza, Peter Slattery and David Wilson.
Toomua captained Queensland at under-16 level and WP are gaining a player with good leadership abilities and an educated boot.
The Brumbies had so much faith in him that they signed him in 2007 directly after he finished school. He has been included in their Super14 squad for 2010.
Meanwhile, WP are keeping tabs on the weather forecasts before Saturday’s game.
“The prediction earlier this week was that it would rain on Saturday, but now it looks as if we will be missing out on it. We are hoping for dry conditions so that we can play a bit,” said WP forwards coach Matt Proudfoot.
Province will realise the dangers of setting their sights against Griquas too high. Griquas won the clash between the two sides in Kimberley earlier in the campaign
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