De Koker to reach half century against Eagles in Wellington
Jovelian de Koker is set to earn his 50th cap for the Boland Cavaliers against the SWD Eagles in a Supersport Rugby Challenge (SRC) match at the Boland Stadium in Wellington on Saturday.
De Koker (26), who is enjoying a superb season for Boland so far, has been selected at scrum-half for the SWD clash.
Cavaliers head coach Randall Modiba has made four changes to his starting XV that lost 23-21 to Western Province at Newlands last weekend.
Francois Esterhuyzen will get his first start of the season at hooker in place of Clemen Lewis, while Gerrit van Wyk replaces Ryno Benjamin at outside centre. Lewis and Benjamin will provide cover from the bench.
Elgar Watts returns to the starting XV after recovering from a minor leg-injury. Watts featured as a reserve against WP, while Adriaan Carelse started in the pivot position.
Sergio Torrens replaces Charles Mayeza (foot injury) at right wing, in the only injury-enforced change to Boland’s starting XV.
Loose forward Emile Booysen will be making his official debut for the Cavaliers, having been named as a reserve for this match. The captain of Wellington-based club Hillcrest United performed well in Boland’s pre-season warm-up matches and has been rewarded with a call-up to the match day squad.
According to Modiba the Cavaliers are ready to bounce back against SWD.
“We’ve learned some valuable lessons from our defeat to Western Province on Saturday. Even though we lost, the players delivered a proud performance on the day.
“Our focus have now shifted to the SWD challenge that awaits us. Certain standards have been set against WP and as a team we know which areas of our game need improvement”.
About playing his 50th match for the Cavaliers, De Koker said:
“It is truly an honour to be playing my 50th match for the Boland Cavaliers. Boland is a team I’ve been watching, and dreamt of playing for ever since I started playing rugby at a young age. It is a dream come true.
“The support I receive from my teammates, coaching staff, friends and family is what keeps me motivated and helps me stay positive.”
According to De Koker it is hard to single out one moment as his favourite in a Cavaliers jersey.
“I have a lot of great memories in the Cavaliers jersey, but if I had to choose just one it would be my first match for Boland in 2014 when we beat the Stormers in Wellington in a warm-up match”.
Boland Cavaliers team to face the SWD Eagles:
BOLAND CAVALIERS: 15. Jacquin Jansen, 14. Sergio Torrens, 13. Gerrit van Wyk, 12. Edwin Sass, 11. Valentino Wellman, 10. Elgar Watts (v/c), 9. Jovelian de Koker, 8. Zandré Jordaan ©, 7. Ludio Williams, 6. Tapiwa Tsomondo, 5. Rinus Bothma, 4. Marlyn Williams, 3. Clinton Theron, 2. Francois Esterhuyzen, 1. Kyle Kruger
Reserves: 16. Clemen Lewis, 17. Arnout Malherbe, 18. Stefaan Grundlingh, 19. Kenan Cronje, 20. Emile Booysen, 21. Ryno Benjamin, 22. Adriaan Carelse
Programme for Saturday:
Saturday 12 May 2018
Boland Stadium, Wellington
11:30 – Hamlet vs Piketberg
14:00 – Boland Cavaliers vs SWD Eagles
Gates open at 11:00.
Tickets available on the day (at the gate) or online at:
ROAD CLOSURES:
Please note: A section of Fontein Street in Wellington (between Willem Basson Street and Burg Street) will be closed off by Law Enforcement officials on Saturday 12 May 2018 from 10:00 to 16:00 for access control and to control the flow of traffic in front of the Boland Stadium.
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