DHL WP team to take on GWK Griquas announced
Gio Aplon moves to wing with the return of Joe Pietersen. Photo by Morgan Piek /Rugby15.
Allister Coetzee, the DHL Western Province head coach, has named his team for Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup clash against GWK Griquas at DHL Newlands (15h00).
Coetzee has made seven changes to the starting XV from last week, with Joe Pietersen, Louis Schreuder, Wilhelm van der Sluys, Frans Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff all starting and Gio Aplon and Don Armand switching positions.
In the backline, Pietersen will wear his regular No.15 jersey, after returning from injury against the Sharks last Saturday, with Aplon switching to the left-wing. Schreuder will start at scrumhalf, with Nic Groom dropping down to the bench after starting two matches in a row.
Up front, meanwhile, Springbok squad member Frans Malherbe returns at tighthead in a double front row change; the youngsters (Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff) starting and the experienced duo of Brok Harris and Deon Carstens providing cover via the bench.
Elsewhere in the pack, Don Armand shifts from lock to flank to cover for the suspended Tyrone Holmes at No.7, meaning that DHL WP Under-21 captain Wilhelm van der Sluys will earn his first-ever Absa Currie Cup start for his province at lock.
There are two new faces on the bench this week, flyhalf Gary van Aswegen (in for Kurt Coleman – broken jaw) and loose forward JJ Gagiano, a former Varsity Cup stalwart and a 2011 Rugby World Cup representative for the USA Eagles.
Van Aswegen last featured for DHL WP in the opening match of the season, whilst Gagiano will make his Absa Currie Cup debut should he take to the field on Saturday.
The DHL Western Province team to take on GWK Griquas is as follows:
15. Joe Pietersen
14. Gerhard van den Heever
13. JP du Plessis
12. Marcel Brache
11. Gio Aplon
10. Demetri Catrakilis
9. Louis Schreuder
8. Jebb Sinclair
7. Don Armand
6. Deon Fourie (captain)
5. De Kock Steenkamp
4. Wilhelm van der Sluys**
3. Frans Malherbe
2. Scarra Ntubeni
1. Steven Kitshoff
RESERVES:
16. Deon Carstens
17. Brok Harris
18. Helmut Lehmann
19. JJ Gagiano*
20. Nic Groom
21. Gary van Aswegen
22. Damian de Allende
* On Absa Currie Cup debut for DHL Western Province.
**First Absa Currie Cup start for DHL Western Province
Referee: Stuart Berry
The full DHL Western Province programme for Saturday, September 22 (all matches at DHL Newlands):
10h45 – DHL WP Under-19 vs Leopards Under-19
12h45 – DHL WP Under-21 vs Leopards Under-21
15h00 – DHL WP vs GWK Griquas (Absa Currie Cup)
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