DHL WP U19s braced for big Durban battle
The DHL Western Province Under-19 team will put their perfect record on the line when they travel to Durban to take on the Sharks Under-19s at Kings Park on Saturday (kick-off 11h00).
DHL WP have picked up two successive bonus point victories at home thus far in 2014, against Free State and the Leopards, but are bracing themselves for a tough challenge in Durban this weekend.
Province Under-19 coach Nazeem Adams told wprugby.com: “We’re feeling good after two wins, but we know it will be a different proposition against a good Sharks team away from home.
“The Du Plessis twins are both back for the Sharks and we know how devastating they are on attack and defence. We need to be clinical when scoring chances present themselves… (but) we need to be up for the game from the word go!”
After conceding four tries against Free State in their Absa Provincial Under-19 season-opener earlier this month, Adams was pleased with how his charges tightened things up on defence last weekend.
“It’s not just about the amount of tries we conceded or our tackle completion rate, but more about making dominant hits,” explained Adams. “From that point of view I was very pleased with the improvement shown in our game last week (from the Free State match).
“We’re confident after our strong start to the season, but we’re aware that we need to keep on improving – especially for big games like this. We have a bye after this week, before taking on Eastern Province in the second week of August, so we would like to go into our mini-break with another win.”
Adams has made just two changes for this week’s clash – one being injury-enforced (Lebohang Mdakane in for Frans van Wyk at tighthead prop) and the other a rotational switch at No.7, with Michael de Waal starting and Luke Stringer reverting to the bench.
The DHL WP Under-19 boss explained: “Unfortunately Frans picked up a knee injury against the Leopards which will keep him out for a while, but we’re hopeful of having him back later in the season.
“Frans van der Merwe (another injured tighthead prop) is due back in two weeks’ time, but this week is a great opportunity for Lebohang Mdakane who scrummed well when he came on last week.
“I’ve said from the start of the season that depth is important.
“(Flyhalf) Brandon Thomson is still not back in action, yet Ernst Stapelberg has been playing so well. (Scrumhalf) Brendon Nell has done well since Justin Phillips’s injury and (backs) Ryan Oosthuizen and Heinrich Buhr have been patient but also explosive off the bench these past two weeks.
“On the whole, the backs have impressed me all season long and hopefully they can have a say (again) come Saturday.”
The DHL WP Under-19 team for Saturday (v Sharks) is as follows:
15. Adriaan Carelse
14. Dewald Naude
13. Jarryd Sage
12. Daniel du Plessis
11. Leolin Zas
10. Ernst Stapelberg
9. Brendon Nell
8. Rikus Bothma (captain)
7. Michael de Waal
6. Charlton Jonas
5. Johan Momsen
4. Ruan du Preez
3. Lebohang Mdakane
2. Daniel du Plessis
1. Kyle Whyte
Replacements:
16. Paul-Martin Wipplinger
17. Mihlali Mtongana
18. Uys Ehlers
19. Floris Pelser
20. Luke Stringer
21. Damian Stevens
22. Ryan Oosthuizen
23. Heinrich Buhr
Referee: Gerrie de Bruin
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