Three changes for DHL WP Under-19s

Sep 3 • General News • 1527 Views • Comments Off on Three changes for DHL WP Under-19s

The DHL Western Province Under-19 team will be looking to protect their unbeaten record in Cape Town this season, when they host the Leopards’ Under-19s at DHL Newlands on Saturday (kick-off 12h45).

The 2014 champions have suffered two losses on the road this season – losing away to the EP Kings and the Blue Bulls – but they have picked up home victories over the Sharks and Lions, along with a 29-29 draw against the Cheetahs in mid-August.

“The guys showed character last week to scrap out that win away from home,” said DHL WP Under-19 coach Nazeem Adams, referring to his charges’ 26-25 win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

“It wasn’t pretty, but it showed good character and I’m expecting big improvements against the Leopards.”

Adams has made three changes to his starting line-up for this week; Justin Heunis and Wayne Smith will form a new-look centre combination and Ruben Terblanche will start at loosehead prop.

Flanker Saud Abrahams and scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies are back to full fitness and will return via the bench, whilst Kurt-Lee Arendse is the new face amongst the replacements.

Adams told the www.wprugby.com website: “The Leopards are a team that doesn’t mind conceding tries… but they back themselves to score more than you.

“As we all know, they’re a tough team to beat in Potchefstroom but yet they managed to beat the Sharks in Durban in early August in a 77-point thriller, so they certainly have no fear and nothing to lose away from home.

“They’re a dangerous side with ball in hand, but, as always, we need to ensure we have our own house in order before worrying about the opposition.

“I keep saying that we’re a dangerous side and I still maintain that not many teams can beat us if we get everything right (in our game) at once.”

Match tickets are still available for Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup and Absa Provincial Under-19 and Under-21 action at DHL Newlands.

Starting at just R20 for standing room, with seats ranging between R30, R35, R40 and R50, tickets can be bought at Computicket – either online (see our ticketing page,http://wprugby.computicket.com) or in-store – and also from Shoprite/Checkers stores and the DHL Newlands Box Office.

The DHL WP Under-19 team for Saturday (v Leopards, home) is as follows:

15. Tiaan Swanepoel
14. Duncan Saal
13. Justin Heunis
12. Wayne Smith
11. Edwill van der Merwe
10. Aidynn Cupido
9. Paul de Wet
8. Jaco Coetzee (captain)
7. Daniel Maree
6. Mitchell Carstens
5. Eduard Zandberg
4. Jaco Willemse
3. Michael Kumbirai
2. Ruan Brits
1. Ruben Terblanche

Replacements:
16. Jacques van Zyl
17. Derrick Marais
18. Jerome Korf
19. Gary Porter
20. Saud Abrahams
21. Herschel Jantjies
22. Kurt-Lee Arendse
23. Gerard Pieterse

Referee: Archie Sehlako