Photo Credit: WP Rugby
The DHL Western Province lock horns with the Tafel Lager Griquas on Saturday (Boxing Day) at DHL Newlands @ 16h30, where Province will be aiming to continue with their push for a semi-final spot. The side from Kimberley travel down to Cape Town determined to clinch their first win of the campaign.
Vodacom Bulls outfit leads the current standings on 35 points from seven wins and just two losses in their 10 outings so far. They are followed by Gauteng neighbours, the Xerox Lions on 29 points, the Cell C Sharks (28), DHL Western Province (26), Toyota Cheetahs (21), Phakisa Pumas (12) and the winless Tafel Lager Griquas (7).
DHL Western Province has been boosted by the return of a number of key players for their Carling Currie Cup encounter with Tafel Lager Griquas at DHL Newlands on Boxing Day.
Wing Sergeal Petersen, No. 8 Juarno Augustus and prop Frans Malherbe are all fit again and back in the starting line-up for the home game against the team from Kimberley.
With Scarra Ntubeni sidelined due to a quad injury, Chad Solomon is set to earn his 50th DHL Western Province cap off the replacements bench.
DHL Western Province Head Coach John Dobson said that following their bye last week, his team cannot wait to get out there at DHL Newlands on Saturday.
“We welcome back a few key players this week and after spending some valuable time with their families last week, they are all well-rested and ready to give it everything.
“We know that it will take a focused and sustained effort for 80 minutes if we are going to get the result we want and our team is certainly up for the challenge,” he said.
Tafel Lager Griquas flank Gideon van der Merwe has recovered from injury and was on Thursday named in a reshuffled starting fifteen for their away game. Van der Merwe has successfully completed his injury recovery, from a head blow sustained in their home defeat in Kimberley against the Xerox Lions on 28 November, and returns to play in the No 6 jersey.
He comes back into the starting side and replaces CJ Velleman who is now set to come off the bench. The return of the loose forward is one of several changes to the forward pack.
The teams:
DHL Western Province: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Chris van Zyl, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements (from): 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Ruhan Nel, 23 Tristan Leyds, 24 Ernst van Rhyn, 25 Chris Schreuder, 26 Leolin Zas.
Tafel Lager Griquas: 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Andre Swarts, 11 Enver Brandt, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Zak Burger (captain), 8 Johan Momsen, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Adre Smith, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Alandre van Rooyen, 1 Andrew Beerwinkel. Replacements (from): 16 HJ Luus, 17 Mox Mxoli, 18 Tijde Visser, 19 Ewan Coetzee, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 CJ Velleman, 22 Ashlon Davids, 23 Daniel Kasende, 24 Bandisa Ndlovu, 25 Raegan Oranje.
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