WP change six for Pumas

during the 2015 Absa Currie Cup Western Province training session and team announcement at the Bellville HPC, Cape Town on 15 September 2015 ©Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

during the 2015 Absa Currie Cup Western Province training session and team announcement at the Bellville HPC, Cape Town on 15 September 2015 ©Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

Published Sep 24, 2015

Share

Cqpe Town - Western Province head coach John Dobson has made six changes to his starting team for Saturday's Absa Currie Cup clash against the Steval Pumas at DHL Newlands (kick-off 15h00).

As expected, Dillyn Leyds will start at fullback - in place of the injured Cheslin Kolbe - with Kobus van Wyk moving up from the bench to start in the No.14 jersey. In the final change to the WP backline this week, Springbok scrumhalf Jano Vermaak will make his first start in Blue & White Hoops, having come off the bench last week to score a valuable try for his new team.

Up front, meanwhile, loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff has not recovered from his chest niggle, handing Oli Kebble a start in the No.1 jersey.

In the second row, Jan de Klerk will make a first start at this level, with Jean Kleyn getting a deserved rest on the bench, and skipper Nizaam Carr returns to assume the team captaincy and the No.8 jersey.

Sikhumbuzo Notshe, who started at No.8 last week, will pack down on the side of the scrum - at No.7 - with Jurie van Vuuren, a last-minute starter last weekend, reverting to the bench.

The hard-hitting Rynhardt Elstadt is still unavailable with a thigh injury.

The new faces on the bench this week are fit-again hooker Michael Willemse (in for the injured Scarra Ntubeni), prop Ali Vermaak and utility back Jaco Taute.

Coach John Dobson told the www.wprugby.com website: “Jan de Klerk deserves a start in the No.4 jersey and we have a plan with Jean Kleyn in the second half.

“Unfortunately, Steven Kitshoff will join Scarra Ntubeni, Rynhardt Elstadt and Cheslin Kolbe on the sidelines this week, but it gives Oli Kebble a big opportunity on the loosehead side and Ali Vermaak is deservedly back in the mix too.

“This match is hugely important for us in terms of our home semifinal hopes, so it's good to have our captain Nizaam Carr back and we're keen to see how Jano Vermaak goes in his first start.

“On the whole, I am looking for a big improvement - as I said last week - in terms of our discipline and sustained attack and we're hoping to attract a nice crowd at DHL Newlands given that it's a 3pm kick-off.”

The Western Province team is as follows: 15. Dillyn Leyds 14. Kobus van Wyk 13. Johnny Kotze 12. Huw Jones 11. Seabelo Senatla 10. Robert du Preez 9. Jano Vermaak (Absa Currie Cup starting debut for DHL WP) 8. Nizaam Carr (captain) 7. Sikhumbuzo Notshe 6. Chris Cloete 5. Ruan Botha 4. Jan de Klerk (Absa Currie Cup starting debut for DHL WP) 3. Wilco Louw 2. Bongi Mbonambi 1. Oli Kebble Replacements: 16. Michael Willemse 17. Ali Vermaak 18. Jean Kleyn 19. Jurie van Vuuren 20. Nic Groom 21. Demetri Catrakilis 22. Jaco Taute - ANA

Related Topics: