Louw to raise DHL WP 50 at Loftus

Oct 11 • Currie Cup, General News • 2046 Views • Comments Off on Louw to raise DHL WP 50 at Loftus

Tighthead prop Wilco Louw will play his 50th match for DHL Western Province in the Currie Cup North-South derby against Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Louw is one of four players who have returned from the Springbok squad to take their place in the starting XV for the final league fixture of the Currie Cup, which kicks off at 17h15 on Saturday.

He is joined in the DHL Western Province team by flank Sikhumbuzo Notshe, flyhalf Damian Willemse and centre Ruhan Nel.

Having already secured a home semifinal at DHL Newlands next week, DHL Western Province will be looking to seal top spot on the standings by continuing their unbeaten run in the Currie Cup this season.

In the front row Louw starts alongside hooker Scarra Ntubeni and prop Ali Vermaak, with skipper Chris van Zyl and JD Schickerling the lock pairing.

Notshe is at No.8 and will be flanked by Kobus van Dyk and Ernst van Rhyn in the loose trio.

Scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies will form an all-new halfback pairing with Willemse, while Dan du Plessis makes his first start of the season in midfield alongside Nel.

The outside back combination of Dillyn Leyds at fullback and wings Sergeal Petersen and SP Marais remains unchanged.

DHL Western Province Head Coach John Dobson said that his team are expecting a typically tough examination at Loftus Versfeld.

“The Vodacom Blue Bulls will obviously be highly motivated for this match, which should provide us with the sort of challenge we need ahead of the play-offs.

“We have got an extremely exciting team and we are all looking forward to putting our plans into action at Loftus Versfeld,” he said.

DHL Western Province: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 SP Marais, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Kobus van Dyk, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Chris van Zyl (captain), 3 Wilco Louw (50th DHL WP cap), 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Josh Stander.