Du Preez family divided for Currie Cup final

Father Robert is a former Blue Bulls and Springboks scrum-half who coaches the Durban-based Sharks.

His twin sons, number eight Daniel and flanker Jean-Luc, form the Sharks back row with veteran Keegan Daniel for the Kings Park stadium title decider.

Among the priorities of the Du Preez twins will be harassing Province fly-half and their older brother, Robert junior.

When Cape Town-based Province achieved a shock 31-20 regular-season win over Sharks in Durban two weekends ago, Robert scored 21 points, including two tries.

Daniel was part of that Sharks team, but Springbok Jean-Luc missed the final-round league fixture due to an injury

"It really is time we put Robert in his place," joked his father this week during a massive media build-up to the climax of the South African domestic season.

"Robert has been playing really well for Province and punished us severely a couple of weeks ago.

"We have to limit his space and time with the ball and that is where Daniel and Jean-Luc come in. They have key roles to perform."

There is a lot at stake for the Du Preez brothers as all three could make the Springboks tour party for Tests in Ireland, France, Italy and Wales during November and December.

National coach Allister Coetzee will watch the final in the Indian Ocean port city before naming his squad Sunday.

"There is always quite a bit of banter in the family ahead of a match between Sharks and Province," Jean-Luc du Preez told reporters.

"It seems Robert is always trying to get one over my father, and has a knack of playing very well against the Sharks.

"Apart from the Sharks, Robert was also instrumental in defeating a team coached by my dad at varsity level."

Province coach John Dobson, who hopes to guide the Cape Town outfit to a record-extending 34th title, says Robert gets teased before matches against Sharks. 

"We gave Robert a hard time a couple of weeks ago in the build-up to the last match against the Sharks," he admitted after a training session.

"His team-mates were asking him if he was going to sort out his 'sisters' in Durban because we thought both Daniel and Jean-Luc would be playing."

Dobson believes Sharks and Province are fitting Currie Cup finalists after semi-finals victories over Bulls and Golden Lions respectively last weekend.

"I believe it is the best final that you could get in terms of the players who are going to be out there and the style of rugby they produce."

Many pundits believe the front-row clash of Sharks loosehead prop Thomas "The Tank" du Toit and Province tighthead Wilco Louw could have a significant influence on the outcome.

Louw debuted for South Africa off the bench against New Zealand this month while 136-kilo Du Toit has made the Springbok squad without being capped.