De Kock Steenkamp to captain Western Province team to play Blue Bulls

Sep 11 • General News, National, South Africa • 3083 Views • Comments Off on De Kock Steenkamp to captain Western Province team to play Blue Bulls

De Kock in the lead for DHL WP

Lock De Kock Steenkamp will captain DHL Western Province in Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup clash against the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld (kick-off 17h05).

Steenkamp takes over the captaincy from injured flanker Deon Fourie (ribs), with Michael Rhodes shifting to the back row in one of just two changes to the WP line-up this week.

The other change to the WP team sees Taz Fuzani take over the No.4 jersey from Rhodes (who will pack down at No.7, with Rynhardt Elstadt in jersey No.6).

Fuzani, who is 22 years old, played six matches for DHL WP during the 2013 Vodacom Cup after first coming to prominence for UWC in the Varsity Shield tournament. The powerful lock will make his Currie Cup debut in Pretoria on Saturday.

WP remain unbeaten in the 2013 Absa Currie Cup, with three wins and two draws during the first half of the season.

They are currently on top of the log with 16 points, just one point ahead of the second-placed Sharks, and DHL WP coach Allister Coetzee is preparing his team for a tough second round of matches which includes three away fixtures.

“We have a winning culture and I’m pleased with that. Whether we get the bonus point or not, there’s a belief to never give up and lose games,” Coetzee told www.wprugby.com.

“I’m pleased with where we are after the first round. We had two draws and three wins but this competition is far from over. It’s so close, so we have to make sure we put the foot on the accelerator in the second half (of the season).”

The DHL Western Province team to take on the Blue Bulls is as follows:

15. Gio Aplon
14. Gerhard van den Heever
13. Juan de Jongh
12. Damian de Allende
11. Cheslin Kolbe
10. Kurt Coleman
9. Louis Schreuder (vice-captain)
8. Nizaam Carr
7. Michael Rhodes
6. Rynhardt Elstadt
5. De Kock Steenkamp (captain)
4. Taz Fuzani (On Absa Currie Cup debut for DHL Western Province)
3. Pat Cilliers
2. Scarra Ntubeni
1. Steven Kitshoff

Replacements:
16. Michael Willemse
17. Brok Harris
18. Gerbrandt Grobler
19. Rohan Kitshoff
20. Nic Groom
21. Gary van Aswegen
22. Michael van der Spuy

Referee: Marius Jonker