DHL WP Under-21s to build on positives
The DHL Western Province Under-21 team will be looking to give their 2015 Absa Provincial Under-21 campaign a boost when they take on the Eastern Province Kings U21 team in Port Elizabeth on Saturday (kick-off 16h15).
The DHL WP U21s lost a tight game at home two weeks ago – going down 13-17 to the Sharks’ U21s – but they are determined to build on the positives from their opening fixture.
Coach Robbie Fleck has selected a new centre pairing for this week, with Jarryd Sage and Ryan Oosthuizen teaming up and SA Under-20 star Dan du Plessis will make his return from injury via the bench.
Squad vice-captain Justin Phillips is back at No.9, where he will team up with SA Under-20 pivot Brandon Thomson (who moves from inside centre), whilst Jason Worral comes in at fullback with Khanyo Ngcukana shifting to the wing.
Up front, meanwhile, the two Lukes, Stringer and Van der Smit, will combine with skipper Rikus Bothma at loose forward, Johannes Momsen will partner David Ribbans at lock and Martin Wipplinger will start at hooker in place of Chad Solomon who is with the senior team at present.
An exciting selection on the bench is that of hooker Daniel du Plessis – who, like his namesake (and centre) Dan, is back from injury.
Coach Fleck told the www.wprugby.com website: “We were disappointed with our opening defeat against the Sharks, but there were some encouraging signs and we will build on those positives.
“We have some exciting players in the mix at Under-21 level, but it’s still a process to get the guys on the same page and to get continuity in selection on a weekly basis.
“I look forward to seeing how Sage and Oosthuizen go at centre, whilst Dan du Plessis is also raring to go from the bench and it’s great to have our vice-captain Justin Phillips back too.
“We should have some more guys back from injury in the coming weeks, players like Jacques Vermeulen, Jean-Luc du Plessis and Ryno Eksteen, so we need to factor in a few more changes in (the) coming weeks.”
The Eastern Province Kings have played two games this season, losing both, but Fleck – as with his team – is not looking at early-season form as an indicator.
“You always want to go out and win, especially when you represent a team like DHL Western Province, but I want to see the guys play to their potential as that will translate into a victory if everything falls into place,” he said.
“There were a lot of positives against the Sharks, most notably in the first half and the last 10/15 minutes, and we will use those positives and put in place what we have been working on at training in order to come away with a win.”
The DHL WP Under-21 team for Saturday (v EP Kings, away) is as follows:
15. Jason Worral
14. Khanyo Ngcukana
13. Ryan Oosthuizen
12. Jarryd Sage
11. Leolin Zas
10. Brandon Thomson
9. Justin Phillips (vice-captain)
8. Rikus Bothma (captain)
7. Luke van der Smit
6. Luke Stringer
5. David Ribbans
4. Johannes Momsen
3. Frans van Wyk
2. Martin Wipplinger
1. Wesley Adonis
Replacements:
16. Daniel du Plessis
17. Liam Hendricks
18. Cornelius van Niekerk
19. Christo van der Merwe
20. Jason Marcus
21. Dan du Plessis
22. Sibahle Maxwane
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
Related Posts
« DHL WP power up for EP Kings friendly DHL WP U19s aim to build on winning start »
