DHL Western Province U21 team to take on the Blue Bulls
Photo by Morgan Piek /Rugby15.
DHL Western Province Under-21 coach John Dobson has announced his team to take on the Blue Bulls in Pretoria on Friday afternoon (kick-off 16h45).
The DHL WP U21s suffered a gut-wrenching 27-28 loss to the Golden Lions in their last match (on September 1), but are feeling fresh after enjoying a bye this past weekend.
With seven matches complete (four wins and three losses), and the second round of the 2012 Province Under-21 competition underway already, Dobson is well aware of the challenge they face against the table-topping Bulls side, who have lost just once this season.
“Obviously it’s a massive challenge to take on the log leaders and defending champions on their home ground, especially as they put us away at Newlands so well in the first round,” said the DHL WP U21 boss.
“Added to that is the fact that we have lost 13 players, who played in the first game to senior call-ups or injuries and this makes it seem a bit like Everest.”
In changes, from the side that started against the Lions two weeks ago, Dillyn Leyds is back at fullback, David Ambunya and Dean Hammond will start on the wings and SA Under-20 backs, Pat Howard and Kobus van Wyk, will combine at centre.
Howard, of course, made his senior Absa Currie Cup debut just last weekend – the latest in a long line of Under-21 players to make their mark at a higher level in 2012.
Said Dobson: “This team, essentially a new one, has come together nicely over the past few weeks and they were very unlucky to lose to the Lions. We might be enormous underdogs but there is genuine belief and determination for the team to do something special on Friday night (against the Bulls).
“We are well aware of the job at hand,” stressed the WP U21 coach, “but we are excited to have the chance to perhaps (do something special).”
The DHL Western Province Under-21 team to take on the Bulls is as follows:
15. Dillyn Leyds
14. David Ambunya
13. Patrick Howard
12. Kobus van Wyk
11. Dean Hammond
10. Tim Swiel
9. Ricky Schroeder (captain)
8. Rayn Smid
7. JP Swanepoel
6. Lungelo Chonco
5. Gerbrand Grobler
4. Jan de Klerk
3. Oliver Kebble
2. Neil Rautenbach
1. Francois van Wyk (vice-captain)
RESERVES:
16. Stephan Coetzee
17. Kelvin de Bruyn
18. Jean Kleyn
19. Vince Jobo
20. Josh Katzen
21. Andries Truter
22. Nick Holton
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Related Posts
« DHL Western Province U19 team to take on the Blue Bulls Sharks U19 team to take on the SWD Eagles U19 »
