Oosthuizen returns for DHL WP U19s

Sep 24 • General News • 1723 Views • Comments Off on Oosthuizen returns for DHL WP U19s

Ryan Oosthuizen will be back at inside centre for the DHL Western Province Under-19 side when they take on the Leopards U19s in Potchefstroom on Saturday (kick-off 11h00).

Oosthuizen missed his team’s hard-fought 21-20 win over the EP Kings in Cape Town last weekend with a cold, but he returns for the Olën Park excursion with Brandon Thomson reverting to the bench.

In other changes from last Saturday, Adriaan Carelse returns at fullback and Michael de Waal, Floris Pelser and Regardt Louw come into the pack, with hooker Paul-Martin Wipplinger (ankle) the latest injury casualty.

“Last week’s win over a good EP side wasn’t our best, not by a long shot, but it was important for us from a confidence point of view,” DHL Western Province Under-19 coach Nazeem Adams told www.wprugby.com.

“Remember, before last weekend we had come off two heavy losses away from home (against the Bulls and the Lions), so we needed to get that ‘W’ behind our name again.”

Looking ahead to this weekend, and the challenge of facing the Leopards in their own backyard, Adams added: “The Leopards are a tough team on their own turf – don’t let their log position fool you.

“We need to start well and build an early lead and not give them a sniff. Last week against the Kings, we were on the attack just before half-time only to turn the ball over and concede a long-range try and (then) trail at half-time. We cannot afford to do that against the Leopards – we need to shut them out from the get-go and not allow them in (at all).”

The DHL WP Under-19s are in second place on the 2014 Absa Provincial Under-19 log with 32 points from nine matches (seven wins and two losses). The first-placed Bulls U19s (on 37 points), meanwhile, will travel to Bloemfontein to take on the third-placed Free Staters (31 points).

“That top-two finish is crucial for us, as we would (obviously) like the comfort of a home semifinal,” said Adams.

“Injuries and some tough away games have really tested us at a crucial stage of the season (these past few weeks), but we need to continue to show resilience and hang in there ahead of the play-offs as we should have some guys back (from injuries) and the possibility of a home semifinal (too).”

The DHL WP Under-19 team for Saturday (v Leopards, away) is as follows:

15. Adriaan Carelse
14. Grant Hermanus
13. Jarryd Sage
12. Ryan Oosthuizen
11. Leolin Zas
10. Ernst Stapelberg
9. Justin Phillips
8. Dian Koen
7. Luke Stringer
6. Michael de Waal
5. Floris Pelser
4. David Ribbans
3. Frans van Wyk (captain)
2. Regardt Louw
1. Francois van der Merwe

Replacements:
16. Hanno Snyman
17. Lebohang Mdakane
18. Mihlali Mtongana
19. Ruan du Preez
20. Jacques Oosthuizen
21. Damian Stevens
22. Brandon Thomson
23. Heinrich Buhr

Referee: Ricus van der Hoven