The newly promoted Sanlam Boland Cavaliers will kick off their Carling Currie Cup Premier Division campaign with a new-look backline, with no less than three backline players making their debuts against the Toyota Cheetahs at Boland Stadium in Wellington on Sunday, 27 July at 15:00 (SA Time).
Donovan Don and David Brits, both on loan from the Blitzboks, will wear the number 11 and 13 jerseys respectively, while Marcqiewn Titus, who hails from Saron, will make his Cavas debut on the right wing.
Louis Schreuder, a Wellington native, was initially named in the starting lineup. Capped once by the Springboks, Schreuder had to withdraw from the squad after he sustained an ankle injury during training earlier this week.
Chriswill September will start alongside Ashlon Davids, after being initially named on the bench. Godlen Masimla joins the matchday squad as cover on the bench.
The versatile Lunathi Nxele will combine with Brits in the midfield, while James Tedder completes the back three at fullback.
The forward pack has a more familiar look to it with the experienced front row of Wayrin Losper, Sidney Tobias, and Dayan van der Westhuizen anchoring the tight five. Seasoned lock Marlyn Williams returns after an injury kept him out for most of the SA Cup. He will be partnered with Michael Benadie in the second row. Williams will also lead the team for a second time this season, with regular captain Thurlow Marsh on the bench.
Gift Dlamini, Khwezi Mafu, and Sibusiso Sangweni form a formidable but balanced loose trio. Head coach Hawies Fourie will lean heavily on Sangweni and Mafu to get his team over the advantage line, with Dlamini bringing work rate and defensive grit to the table.
Fourie, up against his former team with whom he won the Currie Cup in 2022, has named another Cavas debutant in tighthead prop Laurence Victor on the bench. Victor also recently swapped Bloemfontein for Wellington after having played for the Cheetahs.
Another long-term injury returnee is lock Ameer Hendricks, who will be in action for the first time in an official match this season, should he come off the bench. Hendricks played in a few warm-up matches recently against DHL Western Province and Suzuki Griquas.
Flyhalf Juan Mostert is also likely to make his Sanlam Boland Cavaliers debut off the bench. Mostert has joined the Cavaliers after making a name for himself at Maties, the Vodacom Bulls, and the Italian club Rovigo.
Sanlam Boland Cavaliers: 15 James Tedder, 14 Marcqiewn Titus, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Donavan Don, 10 Ashlon Davids (vc), 9 Chriswill September, 8 Sibusiso Sangweni, 7 Khwezi Mafu, 6 Gift Dlamini, 5 Marlyn Williams (c), 4 Michael Benadie, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Wayrin Losper. Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Ameer Hendricks, 20 Thurlow Marsh, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Xavier Mitchell.