Leyds at flyhalf for DHL WP Under-21s
Dillyn Leyds will start at flyhalf for the DHL Western Province Under-21 team against the Golden Lions U21s at Ellis Park on Saturday (kick-off 15h00).
Leyds takes over the No.10 shirt from regular flyhalf Tim Swiel who has been called up to the Western Province Currie Cup squad for this weekend.
With Leyds moving into the frontline, Craig Barry – a try-scorer against the Sharks last Saturday – shifts from the right-wing to fullback, with Chevandre van Schoor starting in the No.14 jersey.
JP Lewis, meanwhile, is back from WP Sevens duty and will take up a place on the bench, with coach John Dobson opting for a regular 4-3 split (between forwards and backs) amongst the WP Under-21 replacements.
Dobson told wprugby: “Tim has been knocking on the door of the senior team for some time and while we’re sad to lose a player of his quality ahead of such a big game, we are fortunate to be able to call upon Dillyn (at flyhalf).
“Last week’s win (over the Sharks) was a pleasing effort in the cold and rain in Cape Town, of which we’d plenty more this week, so we’re looking forward to some sunshine and, perhaps, a slightly faster paced game on the Highveld.”
WP have 19 points from their five games thus far (four wins, one loss) and they trail the Blue Bulls by points’ difference only on the Absa Under-21 Competition standings.
The Golden Lions are in fourth position on the log, with 15 points from five games – just one point behind the third-placed Sharks, whom WP defeated by 20-3 in Cape Town last weekend.
The Lions, however, did manage a win over the Sharks in Durban in Round Two of the Under-21 Competition.
Dobson concluded: “The Lions are a big, physical team and will be a tough nut to crack on their home turf. But we’re looking forward to the challenge of facing them at home in what is just our second away match in our sixth game this season.
“After our poor start against the Cheetahs in Week One, this team has been getting stronger and hopefully we can give a good account of ourselves in Johannesburg against this strong Lions team.”
The DHL Western Province Under-21 team to take on the Lions is as follows:
15. Craig Barry
14. Chevandre van Schoor
13. Kobus van Wyk
12. Kyle Lombard
11. Devon Williams
10. Dillyn Leyds
9. Godlen Masimla
8. Rayn Smid
7. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
6. Josh Katzen (captain)
5. Jean Kleyn
4. Jurie van Vuuren
3. Entienne Swanepoel
2. Stephan Coetzee
1. Oliver Kebble
Replacements:
16. Michael Willemse
17. Sti Sithole
18. Cobus Nel
19. Eital Bredenkamp
20. Jean Nel
21. JP Lewis
22. John-Ben Kotze
Referee: Tiaan Jonker
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