DHL WP change one for Nelspruit trip

Sep 23 • General News • 1810 Views • Comments Off on DHL WP change one for Nelspruit trip

Allister Coetzee, the coach of the table-topping DHL Western Province outfit, has made just one change for his team’s tough assignment against the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday night (kick-off 19h00).

DHL WP, the 2012 Absa Currie Cup winners and 2013 finalists, will take on the Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium with vice-captain Pat Cilliers back at tighthead prop and Brok Harris moving down to the bench.

Scrumhalf Nic Groom and utility back Michael van der Spuy will join Harris on the bench this week, with coach Coetzee once again reverting to a more traditional four/three split (forwards/backs) amongst his replacements.

That means that prop Oli Kebble misses out, after making his Absa Currie Cup debut from the bench against Griquas at DHL Newlands last Saturday, whilst Godlen Masimla also drops out this week now that Groom (SC Joint) is back to full fitness.

“The Pumas are unbeaten at the Mbombela Stadium this season, so it will be a tough challenge for us but one we’re looking forward to,” Coetzee told wprugby.com.

“The challenge is to win away from home in the Absa Currie Cup – especially after slipping up in Johannesburg two weeks ago – and we need to show the same kind of intensity and accuracy that we showed in the first half against Griquas, but for 80-plus minutes.”

DHL Western Province currently lie in first position on the 2014 Absa Currie Cup table, with 29 points from seven games (six victories). The Pumas are in fourth position on 19 points (four wins from seven games).

Friday’s match will not be televised live.

The DHL WP team for Friday (v Pumas, away) is as follows:

15. Cheslin Kolbe
14. Kobus van Wyk
13. Juan de Jongh (captain)
12. Jaco Taute
11. Justin Geduld
10. Demetri Catrakilis
9. Louis Schreuder
8. Nizaam Carr
7. Michael Rhodes
6. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
5. Ruan Botha
4. Jean Kleyn
3. Pat Cilliers (vice-captain)
2. Scarra Ntubeni
1. Alistair Vermaak

Replacements:
16. Neil Rautenbach
17. Brok Harris
18. Manuel Carizza
19. Rohan Kitshoff
20. Nic Groom
21. Kurt Coleman
22. Michael van der Spuy

Referee: Jaco van Heerden
Assistant referees: Christie du Preez, Stefan Breytenbach