Viljoen wings it for DHL Western Province Under-21s

Oct 23 • General News • 2580 Views • Comments Off on Viljoen wings it for DHL Western Province Under-21s

Photo: Werner Nysschen Photographer

EW Viljoen will line up in the No.14 jersey for the DHL Western Province Under-21 team in Saturday’s Absa Provincial Under-21 Final against the Blue Bulls at DHL Newlands (kick-off 14h00).

Viljoen, who played off the bench for DHL WP’s senior Absa Currie Cup team last weekend, will start on the right wing, with Justin Geduld (fullback) and JP Lewis (left wing) joining him in an exciting back three for the defending champions.

DHL WP Under-21 coach John Dobson told wprugby.com: “We are fortunate that we are able to choose a relatively unchanged team that did a good job (in the semifinals) last week without playing particularly well.

“There have been no more call-ups to the senior team and we have been able to welcome EW Viljoen back into the fold this week. As a result, Lihleli Xoli drops to the bench and WJ Strydom is very, very unlucky to miss out.

“Up front, the same pack starts with just two changes on the bench where Jade Kriel, a specialist lock, comes in to replace Devon Nash and (prop) Chippie Oelofse comes in for Wes Adonis.

“We are very excited about this game, obviously,” added Dobson.

“We have had a good season and it’s great that we get to test ourselves against the Bulls in what is an old, old rivalry. This group has always possessed a great work-ethic and it’s a tight group.

“We have been the best side on the competition over the season and we need to do all we can to crown that on Saturday against a strong, big Bulls team.”

The current DHL WP U21 management has been together since 2010. In that time, up until this weekend, they have played 27 matches, winning 25 games and lifted the Absa U21 title on two previous occasions (including last year) in the process.

Looking ahead to this weekend, a third successive Absa Under-21 Final between these two sides, Dobson said: “We are getting quite used to this scenario…

“Thanks to the fact that the Bulls senior team have not made an Absa Currie Cup Final for many years and our seniors are now into a third final in a row, we get used to this where some of their Absa Currie Cup players come down for the U21 Final.

“But we actually like it… our chaps enjoy this challenge!”

* 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 http://wprugby.ticketpros.co.za, from selected PostNet outlets and the DHL Newlands box office in Boundary Road, Newlands (09h00 to 16h00).

The DHL WP Under-21 team for Saturday’s final (v Blue Bulls, home) is as follows:

15. Justin Geduld
14. EW Viljoen
13. Johnny Kotze
12. Kyle Lombard
11. JP Lewis
10. Robert du Preez
9. Jean Nel (vice-captain)
8. Carel du Preez
7. Justin Benn
6. Eital Bredenkamp (captain)
5. Jan Uys
4. Jurie van Vuuren
3. Deacon Chowles
2. Michael Willemse
1. John-Hubert Meyer

Replacements:
16. Michael Kennedy
17. Niel Oelofse
18. Jade Kriel
19. Tapiwa Tsomondo
20. SP Ferreira
21. Lihleli Xoli
22. Huw Jones

Referee: Lesego ‘Pro’ Legoete
Assistant referees: Rodney Boneparte, Ben Crouse
Television Match Official: Deon van Blommestein