DHL Western Province change six for Pumas

Sep 24 • General News • 1677 Views • Comments Off on DHL Western Province change six for Pumas

DHL Western Province head coach John Dobson has made six changes to his starting team for Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup clash against the Steval Pumas at DHL Newlands (kick-off 15h00).

As expected, Dillyn Leyds will start at fullback – in place of the injured Cheslin Kolbe – with Kobus van Wyk moving up from the bench to start in the No.14 jersey.

In the final change to the DHL WP backline this week, Springbok scrumhalf Jano Vermaak will make his first start in Blue & White Hoops, having come off the bench last week to score a valuable try for his new team.

Up front, meanwhile, loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff has not recovered from his chest niggle, handing Oli Kebble a start in the No.1 jersey.

In the second row, Jan de Klerk will make a first start at this level, with Jean Kleyn getting a deserved rest on the bench, and skipper Nizaam Carr returns to assume the team captaincy and the No.8 jersey.

Sikhumbuzo Notshe, who started at No.8 last week, will pack down on the side of the scrum – at No.7 – with Jurie van Vuuren, a last-minute starter last weekend, reverting to the bench. The hard-hitting Rynhardt Elstadt is still unavailable with a thigh injury.

The new faces on the bench this week are fit-again hooker Michael Willemse (in for the injured Scarra Ntubeni), prop Ali Vermaak and utility back Jaco Taute.

Coach John Dobson told the www.wprugby.com website: “Jan de Klerk deserves a start in the No.4 jersey and we have a plan with Jean Kleyn in the second half.

“Unfortunately, Steven Kitshoff will join Scarra Ntubeni, Rynhardt Elstadt and Cheslin Kolbe on the sidelines this week, but it gives Oli Kebble a big opportunity on the loosehead side and Ali Vermaak is deservedly back in the mix too.

“This match is hugely important for us in terms of our home semifinal hopes, so it’s good to have our captain Nizaam Carr back and we’re keen to see how Jano Vermaak goes in his first start.

“On the whole, I am looking for a big improvement – as I said last week – in terms of our discipline and sustained attack and we’re hoping to attract a nice crowd at DHL Newlands given that it’s a 3pm kick-off.”

Saturday’s match between DHL Western Province and the Steval Pumas will NOT be televised live on SuperSport, so make sure you get down to DHL Newlands (kick-off 15h00) to support your team in Blue & White hoops!

Starting at just R20 for standing room, with seats ranging between R30, R35, R40 and R50, match 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 Newlands stadium bar, the 100s Bar, will remain open after Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup action for fans to take in the RWC action as the Springboks take on Samoa in a big Rugby World Cup Pool B match in Birmingham (kick-off 17h45 – SA time)!

The DHL Western Province team for Saturday (v Steval Pumas, home) is as follows:

15. Dillyn Leyds
14. Kobus van Wyk
13. Johnny Kotze
12. Huw Jones
11. Seabelo Senatla
10. Robert du Preez
9. Jano Vermaak (Absa Currie Cup starting debut for DHL WP)
8. Nizaam Carr (captain)
7. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
6. Chris Cloete
5. Ruan Botha
4. Jan de Klerk (Absa Currie Cup starting debut for DHL WP)
3. Wilco Louw
2. Bongi Mbonambi
1. Oli Kebble

Replacements:
16. Michael Willemse
17. Ali Vermaak
18. Jean Kleyn
19. Jurie van Vuuren
20. Nic Groom
21. Demetri Catrakilis
22. Jaco Taute

Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni