WP Change one for the Final

Oct 23 • General News • 2274 Views • Comments Off on WP Change one for the Final

Photo: Werner Nysschen Photography

DHL Western Province coach Allister Coetzee has kept the changes to a minimum for Saturday’s 2014 Absa Currie Cup Final clash against the Xerox Golden Lions at DHL Newlands (kick-off 17h00).

In the only change to the starting XV that beat the Blue Bulls by 31-23 last weekend, fit-again centre Jaco Taute returns in the No.12 jersey to resume his partnership with skipper Juan de Jongh, who will be playing in his 50th match in the Blue & White hoops of DHL Western Province.

Michael van der Spuy reverts to the bench for Saturday’s final, where he is joined by lock Gerbrandt Grobler, who comes into the matchday squad at the expense of prop Oli Kebble, who came off the bench last weekend.

No.8 Nizaam Carr, who left the field in the first half of last week’s semifinal, has been passed fit for the final, with coach Coetzee praising the consistency in selection during the business-end of the 2014 Absa Currie Cup.

“We’ve had some tough calls to make, especially last week, but we are fortunate to have not made many changes these past two weeks,” said the DHL WP boss, who will be guiding his team into a third successive final this weekend.

“Jaco is fit and takes his place at inside centre again and we’re fortunate to have a guy like Michael van der Spuy backing him up, with Jaco providing additional back-up given his versatility across the backline.”

DHL WP and the Lions will lock horns for the third time this Absa Currie Cup season, with both teams winning once up until now, but, according to Coetzee, the hosts are looking forward to Saturday’s Finals Day which will see the DHL WP Under-19 (kick-off 12h15), Under-21 (14h00) and Senior (17h00) teams involved in all three finals on offer.

“It’s a challenge that we’re embracing and one that we’re excited about. You can’t ask for more than running out at a packed DHL Newlands. This side has matured well this season and we’re really looking forward to Saturday,” Coetzee told wprugby.com.

“The Lions have been a very consistent team this year – in terms of their selection and performances and we’re expecting a ferocious onslaught from them. They play a similar brand to us, so we should be in for a great final.”

* Season ticket holders had until Wednesday, October 22 (at 12h00) to purchase their regular seats for the final, with those remaining tickets and other allocated tickets released for sale back to the general public – from 09h00 this (Thursday) morning.

As of Thursday morning at 11h00, 4,000 seating tickets were still available for sale, along with 1,000 standing tickets for the final. Tickets can be purchased online at wprugby.ticketpros.co.za, from selected PostNet outlets and the DHL Newlands box office in Boundary Road, Newlands (09h00 to 16h00).

The DHL WP team for Saturday’s final (v Golden Lions, home) is as follows:

15. Cheslin Kolbe
14. Kobus van Wyk
13. Juan de Jongh (captain – 50th cap for DHL Western Province)
12. Jaco Taute
11. Seabelo Senatla
10. Demetri Catrakilis
9. Nic Groom
8. Nizaam Carr
7. Michael Rhodes
6. Rynhardt Elstadt
5. Manuel Carizza
4. Jean Kleyn
3. Pat Cilliers (vice-captain)
2. Scarra Ntubeni
1. Alistair Vermaak

Replacements:
16. Neil Rautenbach
17. Brok Harris
18. Gerbrandt Grobler
19. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
20. Louis Schreuder
21. Kurt Coleman
22. Michael van der Spuy

Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper, Lesego ‘Pro’ Legoete
Television Match Official: Deon van Blommestein