Western Province choose a strong team to face the Sharks

Oct 9 • General News, National, South Africa • 2886 Views • Comments Off on Western Province choose a strong team to face the Sharks

The DHL Western Province team to take on the Sharks is as follows:

15. Gio Aplon
14. Gerhard van den Heever
13. Juan de Jongh
12. Damian de Allende
11. Cheslin Kolbe
10. Demetri Catrakilis
9. Louis Schreuder
8. Duane Vermeulen
7. Siya Kolisi
6. Deon Fourie (captain)
5. De Kock Steenkamp
4. Eben Etzebeth
3. Pat Cilliers
2. Scarra Ntubeni
1. Steven Kitshoff

Replacements:
16. Frans Malherbe
17. Brok Harris
18. Michael Rhodes
19. Schalk Burger

20. Nic Groom
21. Kurt Coleman
22. Jean de Villiers
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan

Western Province coach Allister Coetzee has named four Springboks in his starting XV for Saturday’s decisive Currie Cup encounter against the Sharks in Durban.

Outside centre Juan de Jongh, No.8 Duane Vermeulen, flank Siya Kolisi and lock Eben Etzebeth will all start for the unbeaten defending champions, whilst national skipper Jean de Villiers will be on the bench.

De Villiers will join Springbok colleague Schalk Burger amongst the WP replacements, with utility forward Michael Rhodes dropping to the bench to make way for the return of second row star Eben Etzebeth.

Flank Rynhardt Elstadt (shoulder) misses out with an injury this week, whilst No.6 Deon Fourie will, again, lead the Province team into battle.

Eleven players who started in last year’s Currie Cup Final – also against the Sharks and also at Kings Park in Durban – will return in starting roles for this weekend’s top-of-the-log clash, with prop Frans Malherbe and scrumhalf Nic Groom part of the bench this time.

Province have won seven matches so far this season and drawn two, which sees them top the log by one point over the second-placed Sharks, who have tasted defeat twice this season.