DHL WP name exciting line-up for Kenyan Safari
WP Rugby have announced an exciting DHL Western Province line-up to take on Kenya at Nairobi’s RFUEA Grounds on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 16h00).
DHL WP will take on the Kenyan national team after the Bamburi Rugby Super Series Final on Saturday, a match featuring Nguvu Papa and UAP Kifaru.
This fixture will be Kenya’s last build up ahead of the forthcoming Confederation of African Rugby Division 1A championships in Madagascar, which will serve as the final round of African qualifying for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.
No.8 Rayn Smid will captain the DHL WP line-up on Saturday, with Michael van der Spuy, Devon Williams, Gary van Aswegen, Dylon Frylinck, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Jean Kleyn, Stephan Coetzee and Sti Sithole all boasting Vodacom Super Rugby experience.
Youngsters EW Viljoen (fullback) and Robert du Preez (flyhalf) – who are still eligible for the Under-19 and Under-21 teams, respectively – will start for WP, whilst Neil Rautenbach, Digby Webb, Lungelo Chonco, Ian Groenewald, Jan Uys, Freddie Muller and Craig Barry were all standout players during the 2014 Varsity Cup or Shield competitions.
The Province team will be coached by Vodacom Cup and Under-21 coach John Dobson, who said: “This really is an exciting opportunity for us, as coaches, and the players to take the WP Rugby brand into a country like Kenya.
“We realise that it’s a massive honour and we are heading to Nairobi with the main purpose of winning this match. However, I also want the players to learn a bit about the country they are visiting and I have told them to take it all in and enjoy the opportunity.”
On the team selected for the trip, Dobson told www.wprugby.com: “This is a young team, if I am not mistaken the oldest player is 24 years old.
“The backline has plenty of pace and skill, but we’re particularly excited about EW Viljoen and Robert du Preez – both of whom are young men with bright futures here at WP Rugby.
“It’s been great to see young forwards like Sti, Stephan, Jean and Notshe take the step up to Super Rugby this year and we will be relying on them to give us a good platform up front to allow our exciting backs some space to move.”
The Province squad will depart for Kenya on Wednesday evening and return to Cape Town on Sunday morning.
Next week DHL Western Province will travel to Windhoek to take on the Namibian national team at the Dr Hage Geingob Stadium (on Saturday, June 14).
The DHL Western Province team to take on Kenya is as follows:
15. EW Viljoen
14. Chevandre van Schoor
13. Pat Howard
12. Michael van der Spuy
11. Devon Williams
10. Robert du Preez
9. Dylon Frylinck
8. Rayn Smid (captain)
7. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
6. Lungelo Chonco
5. Jean Kleyn
4. Ruan Vermaak
3. Justin Ackerman
2. Stephan Coetzee
1. Sti Sithole
Replacements:
16. Neil Rautenbach
17. Digby Webb
18. Ian Groenewald
19. Carel du Preez
20. Jan Uys
21. Freddie Muller
22. Gary van Aswegen
23. Craig Barry
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