De Jongh back in the lead for DHL Western Province

Sep 29 • General News • 1576 Views • Comments Off on De Jongh back in the lead for DHL Western Province

Photo by Getty Images.

Fit-again centre Juan de Jongh will start in the No.12 jersey and resume the captaincy for DHL Western Province’s Absa Currie Cup clash against the Xerox Golden Lions in Johannesburg on Friday night (kick-off 18h00).

De Jongh has been out of action since suffering an MCL injury against the Free State Cheetahs in mid-August and his return to fitness is a massive boost for the defending champions ahead of the 2015 play-offs.

De Jongh will start at inside centre ahead of Huw Jones, as the DHL WP coaching staff wisely intend to control his game time upon his return to action.

In other changes to the DHL WP line-up from the side that did duty against the Steval Pumas last weekend, Cheslin Kolbe returns at fullback, Nic Groom is back in the No.9 shirt, Chris Cloete is back in the No.6 jersey, Jean Kleyn is back at lock and Steven Kitshoff returns at loosehead prop.

Kolbe has been bracketed with Dillyn Leyds for now, with Kobus van Wyk on standby on the right-wing (should Leyds move to fullback or not start at all), with head coach John Dobson expected to make a call on his back three before kick-off on Friday.

Oli Kebble, Jurie van Vuuren and Jones revert to the bench this week, having all started in the 50-19 romp over the Pumas at DHL Newlands, with halfbacks Godlen Masimla and Kurt Coleman the new faces on the bench this week.

Masimla replaces Jano Vermaak who has a slight groin niggle, whilst Coleman, having overcome his calf muscle injury, returns for Demetri Catrakilis, who has been released from his Western Province Rugby contract in order to join French Top 14 club, Montpellier.

DHL WP boss John Dobson told the www.wprugby.com website: “This match is a massive challenge – playing against the in-form and unbeaten Lions at altitude… it doesn’t get any tougher!

“We’re very happy to have Juan back. Medically, he has 40 minutes in him and we intend to control his game time, which is one of the reasons why we have decided to start with him. Like I said earlier in the week, he is our team leader and everyone looks up to him, so his leadership and experience are also big reasons as to why he is starting.

“We had some very tough selection meetings this week,” added Dobson.

“We’re being very careful with guys like Dillyn, Cheslin and also Rynhardt Elstadt (in terms of their fitness and selection). Both Dillyn and Cheslin have small niggles, but we might not want to risk both of them with Kobus 100% fit.

“A player like Ali Vermaak can consider himself very unfortunate to miss out altogether, but we feel we have selected the best possible starting team, along with a powerful bench, to do the job for us this Friday.”

The DHL Western Province team for Friday (v Xerox Golden Lions, away) is as follows:

15. Cheslin Kolbe / Dillyn Leyds
14. Dillyn Leyds / Kobus van Wyk
13. Johnny Kotze
12. Juan de Jongh (captain)
11. Seabelo Senatla
10. Robert du Preez
9. Nic Groom
8. Nizaam Carr
7. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
6. Chris Cloete
5. Ruan Botha
4. Jean Kleyn
3. Wilco Louw
2. Bongi Mbonambi
1. Steven Kitshoff
Replacements:
16. Michael Willemse
17. Oli Kebble
18. Chris van Zyl
19. Jurie van Vuuren
20. Godlen Masimla
21. Kurt Coleman
22. Huw Jones