DHL WP U21 aiming for top spot

Sep 15 • General News • 1243 Views • Comments Off on DHL WP U21 aiming for top spot

DHL Western Province U21 will be aiming to secure top spot on the standings, when they take on the Leopards U21, at DHL Newlands, on Saturday.

In what is their last match of the league phase of the competition, a bonus-point victory against the Leopards U21 would assure DHL Western Province U21 of top spot, heading into the play-offs.

Coach Jerome Paarwater has had to make a number of changes to his team through injuries and suspension for the match, which kicks off at 14h15 on Saturday.

In the backline, Dennis Cox gets an opportunity to start at fullback, with Grant Hermanus suspended. There is also a new halfback combination with Aidynn Cupido at flyhalf, in place of the injured Brandon Thomson and Justin Phillips back from injury to start at scrumhalf.

The changes to the forward pack are all in the tight five, with Jaco Willemse pairing up with Eduard Zandberg in the second row, whilst there are also two new props in loosehead Ruben Terblanche and tighthead Michael Kumbirai.

Paarwater said that the key for his team this week will be to build some momentum to take into the knock-out phase of the comeptition.

“There have been some disruptions to the team, but we are focused on our goal of raising our standards in all areas.

“It is important that we gain some confidence and belief within the team, in what is our last game before the semifinals,” he said.

DHL Western Province U21: 15 Dennis Cox, 14 Sibahle Maxwane, 13 Eduan Keyter, 12 Ryan Oosthuizen, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Aidynn Cupido, 9 Justin Phillips, 8 Christo van der Merwe, 7 Mitchell Carstens, 6 Luke Stringer (captain), 5 Eduard Zandberg, 4 Jaco Willemse, 3 Michael Kumbirai, 2 Percy Mngadi, 1 Ruben Terblanche.
Replacements: 16 Hanno Snyman, 17 JP Botha, 18 Kyle Whyte, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Daniel Maree, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Heinrich Buhr.