CAPE TOWN – Western Province coach John Dobson has made five changes to his team for their Currie Cup clash with the Blue Bulls at Newlands on Saturday (5.15pm kickoff).
After suffering defeat to Griquas in Kimberley on Wednesday, scrumhalf Jano Vermaak, flyhalf Damian Willemse, centre Huw Jones, flank Jaco Coetzee and hooker Scarra Ntubeni all come into WP’s run-on side for the home clash.
Vermaak replaces Dewaldt Duvenage, who picked up an ankle injury on Wednesday, and will form the halfback pairing with Willemse, while Justin Phillips and Kurt Coleman will feature off the bench.
Scottish international Jones will make his first start since returning from a hamstring injury at inside centre.
Both Coetzee and Ntubeni come into the starting line-up, with Ramone Samuels and Steph de Wit on the replacements bench alongside lock Eddie Zandberg, who will make his make his Currie Cup debut if he comes off the bench.
After a tough away game, Dobson said that they were looking forward to playing at Newlands again.
“It is always a big game when the Blue Bulls come to Newlands, and this will be no different,” Dobson said.
“It has been a tough week for us, but the players are determined to rise to the occasion and show what we are capable of.”
Western Province Team
15 SP Marais, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Huw Jones, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Jaco Coetzee, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Chris van Zyl (captain), 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Bench: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Michael Kumbirai, 18 Eddie Zandberg, 19 Steph de Wit, 20 Justin Phillips, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Dan Kriel.
@WynonaLouw