In the penultimate round of Carling Currie Cup league matches this season, DHL WP will attempt to atone for last week’s 33-10 away loss to the Sigma Lions by delivering a winning performance against the high-flying Windhoek Draught Griquas on Friday in Stellenbosch at 16h00.
The Northern Cape side delivered the shock result of last weekend's action when they outplayed the Toyota Cheetahs 46-18 to end the Free Staters’ run of nine consecutive wins. That win also pushed them up into third place with 26 points from five wins in 10 games.
The Cape outfit has struggled to find their rhythm this season, winning only twice in 10 outings, so they will be under pressure to deliver a successful result against the hard-running visitors. Apart from their current superior league position, the men from Kimberley will also feel confident having won the previous three meetings between the two sides, stretching back to last July.
The white and blue hooped jerseys suffered a narrow 20-22 defeat in the two teams’ fourth-round fixture played in February in Kimberley, and Jerome Paarwater’s side will be determined to make amends for that on Friday in Stellenbosch. The last time DHL WP won this fixture was in January 2020, by a score of 34-17 in Cape Town.
Angelo Davids makes his return to the DHL Western Province team among five changes made.
The only other change to the backline sees Thomas Bursey start at scrumhalf, forming a new halfback pairing with captain Tim Swiel.
There is an all-new lock pairing of Simon Miller and Ben-Jason Dixon, while Keke Morabe starts at the back of the scrum, with Junior Pokomela on the flank.
DHL Western Province Head Coach Jerome Paarwater said that his team is looking forward to playing in Stellenbosch.
“It is fantastic for us to be playing out here at the Danie Craven Stadium for what should be an entertaining game.
“Our players are determined to make the most of every minute out there and show what playing in this jersey means to them,” he said.
Windhoek Draught Griquas, head coach Pieter Bergh made only one change to his starting line-up.
Simon Westraadt will replace Janco Uys on hooker with Uys dropping to the bench, while Werner Gouws is set to make his debut from the bench.
Teams:
DHL Western Province: 15. Tristan Leyds, 14. Sergeal Petersen, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Cornel Smit, 11. Angelo Davids, 10. Timothy Swiel (c), 9. Thomas Bursey, 8. Keke Morabe, 7. Marcel Theunissen, 6. Junior Pokomela, 5. Ben-Jason Dixon, 4. Simon Miller, 3. Sazi Sandi, 2. Jacques van Zyl, 1. Ali Vermaak. Replacements: 16. Chad Solomon, 17. Kwenzo Blose, 18. Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19. Hilton Lobberts, 20. Shaine Orderson, 21. Bobby Alexander, 22. Mnombo Zwelendaba, 23. Ebenezer Tshimanga.
Windhoek Draught Griquas: 15. Ashlon Davids, 14. Munier Hartzenberg, 13. Sango Xamlashe, 12. Rynardt Jonker, 11. Luther Obi, 10. Alex-Zander du Plessis, 9. Johan Mulder, 8. Sibabalo Qoma, 7. Hanru Sirgel, 6. Niel Otto (c), 5. Derik Pretorius, 4. Johan Retief, 3. Janu Botha, 2. Simon Westraadt, 1. Kudzwai Dube. Replacements: 16.Janco Uys, 17. Edward Davids, 18. Andries Schutte, 19. Cameron Lindsay, 20. Werner Gouws, 21. Stefan Ungerer, 22. George Whitehead, 23. Christopher Hollis.
