DHL Western Province u/20 will host the Cell C Sharks u/20 at City Park on Saturday at 12:00 (SA Time) in the second match of Round 1 of the 2023 u/20 SA Rugby Cup.
The DHL Western Province u/20s go into this match as the underdogs with the Cell C Sharks u/20s bringing an almost only u/20 side to Cape Town.
One of the interesting battles will be in the frontrow where Phatu Ganyane, Bryce Calvert and Dian Heunis of the Cell C Sharks will welcome Tian Vorster, Luca Bakkes and Zachary Porthen to the world of grownups. The Cell C Sharks frontrow which will almost certainly take part in the 2023 u/20 World Cup while the exciting DHL Western Province must be the best of the u/19 frontrows in South Rugby.
Flank Paul De Villiers leads a team packed with promising talent, including the likes of Imad Khan, Hendrik Sieberhagen, Jan-Hendrik Gouws and FC Fourie who all featured for DHL Western Province U20 last season.
DHL Western Province Head Coach Norman Jordaan said that after a busy pre-season, his team is determined to make a positive start to their campaign.
“We have got a lot of talent in this team, but this will be the real test of how they come together and operate as a collective.
“We know that we are in for a tough encounter, but that is exactly what we want in our opening game and we are hoping to make the most of playing at home,” he said.
Teams:
DHL Western Province U20: 15. Jacque Jooste, 14. Joshua Boulle, 13. Jared Africa, 12. Damian Marcus, 11. Thaaqib Ryland, 10. Ulrich Wahl, 9. Imad Khan, 8. Camden Schoeman, 7. Corbin Benjamin, 6. Paul de Villiers (c), 5. Hendrik Sieberhagen, 4. Jan Hendrik Gouws, 3. Zachary Porthen, 2. Luca Bakkes, 1. Tian Vorster. Replacements: 16. Jonathan Berangie, 17. Matthew Beckett, 18 Mhleli Khuzwayo, 19. Adam de Waal, 20. Isaiah Louw, 21. Andre Goedals, 22. FC Fourie, 23. Bruce Sherwood.
Cell C Sharks u/20: 15. Phillipus Venter, 14. Tholithemba Sibisi, 13. Ryan Manuel, 12. Ethan Hooker (c), 11. Banie Britz, 10. Jean Smith, 9. Michael Koch, 8. Jannes Potgieter, 7. Meno Barnard, 6. Khumoetsile Nkutha, 5. Luca Ribbens, 4. C le Roux, 3. Dian Heunis, 2. Bryce Calvert, 1. Phatu Ganyane. Replacements: 16. Marnus Winter, 17. Dylan Willies, 18. Uli Walker, 19. Dylan Moore-Boyle, 20. Aletwa Buthelezi, 21. Christian Els, 22. Stehan Heymans, 23. Jurenzo Julius.
