DHL WP U19s aim to build on winning start
The DHL Western Province Under-19 team will be looking to make it two from two when they travel to Port Elizabeth to face up to the Eastern Province Under-19s on Saturday (kick-off 14h00).
Having come off a last-gasp 10-6 win over the Sharks two weeks ago, coach Nazeem Adams is well aware that there needs to be an improvement as they face up to an EP side that has picked up two wins from two starts thus far.
“We knew the Sharks would be tough opponents, but it was very important to start our season with a win – especially as we had a bye last week,” Adams told the www.wprugby.com website.
“We were not at our best against the Sharks in our first game of the season, which is always a tough fixture, but the guys showed great tenacity and attitude to win at the death – that, in itself, was pleasing.”
As an added bonus for Adams and his troops, wings Duncan Saal and Edwill van der Merwe and powerful lock Eduard Zandberg are all over their injuries and they have been named in the DHL WP U19 line-up for Saturday’s Absa Provincial Under-19 fixture.
“At this stage we’re missing only (flanker) Saud Abrahams,” said Adams.
“I look forward to seeing how Eduard, who is our line-out caller, and Duncan and Edwill, both of whom are specialist wingers, perform. I want to continue to create depth in this squad… Like I always say, you need depth in this competition – especially when it comes to tough away games like this.”
Looking ahead to the challenge of their first away game of 2015, Adams concluded: “EP are a form team and the core of their playing group is made up of the players that won the Under-18 Craven Week last year.
“They’re also a team that’s been playing more than us of late, winning both their games away from home, so they will be match sharp and confident.
“We cannot afford to start slowly, especially as the weather conditions are expected to be quite poor, but we had a taste of that ourselves in our opening match at City Park (against the Sharks).”
The DHL WP Under-19 team for Saturday (v EP Kings, away) is as follows:
15. Gerard Pieterse
14. Duncan Saal
13. Justin Heunis
12. Edrich Venter
11. Edwill van der Merwe
10. Aidynn Cupido
9. Herschel Jantjies
8. Jaco Coetzee (captain)
7. Mitchell Carstens
6. Mervano da Silva
5. Eduard Zandberg
4. Jaco Willemse
3. Michael Kumbirai
2. Percy Mngadi
1. Carl Prinsloo
Replacements:
16. Ruan Brits
17. Jerome Korf
18. Keagan Timm
19. Gary Porter
20. Daniel Maree
21. Paul de Wet
22. Tiaan Swanepoel
23. Eduan Keyter
Referee: Oregopotse Rametsi
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