DHL Western Province has released the team sheets for the Under 19 and Under 21 teams for the ABSA Currie Cup Finals at Newlands, Cape Town against the age group sides of the Vodacom Blue Bulls.

EW Viljoen and Justin Geduld moves down from the senior side to the Under 21 side.

DHL Western Province Under 19:

Coach Nazeem Adams will field an unchanged DHL Western Province Under 19 lineup for Saturday’s ABSA Provincial Under 19 Final against the Blue Bulls at DHL Newlands (kick-off 12:15 SA Time).

The DHL WP Under 19’s have rallied back strongly during the latter stages of the ABSA Provincial Under 19 competition to put themselves in contention to once again lift the trophy in this age-group – having also triumphed in the final in Durban in 2012.

After finishing third in the league phase this season, with nine wins from 12 starts, the team recorded a brilliant 29-22 Semi-Final win away from home last weekend and coach Adams was a proud man after their victory in Bloemfontein.

The DHL WP Under 19 boss told wprugby.com: “We had that belief last week to do the job away from home and it was nice to see the excitement amongst the players after the win.

“I told them to enjoy the moment, but by Monday they were refocused and looking ahead to this weekend. We know it’s a big game, but we’re ready for it and looking forward to it.

“The Bulls are a good team, we’ve beaten them once this year and lost to them on another occasion. Physically there is little to choose between our teams, it’s all about being calm, disciplined and focused in a game of this magnitude.”

The DHL WP Under 19’s beat the Blue Bulls at home in Cape Town in mid-August, before the Blue Bulls juniors turned the table on Province in Pretoria later that month.

Adams, as one would expect, is happy to be at home for this weekend’s final.

“It’s a nice feeling to be playing a big final like this at DHL Newlands,” he said.

“All three DHL Western Province teams will be involved in finals on Saturday. Not only would it be a massive honour to open the day on a high for our union, but it’s also a big inspiration for us to set the tone for WP.”

DHL Western Province Under 19 team: 15 Khanyo Ngcukana, 14 Grant Hermanus, 13 Heinrich Buhr, 12 Ryan Oosthuizen, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Ernst Stapelberg, 9 Justin Phillips, 8 Rikus Bothma (Captain), 7 Luke Stringer, 6 Christo van der Merwe, 5 David Ribbans, 4 Johan Momsen, 3 Francois van der Merwe, 2 Paul-Martin Wipplinger, 1 Frans van Wyk
Replacements: 16 Hanno Snyman, 17 Lebohang Mdakane, 18 Kyle Whyte, 19 Ruan du Preez, 20 Graham Geldenhuys, 21 Brendon Nell, 22 Jarryd Sage, 23 Adriaan Carelse.

Referee: Rodney Boneparte
Assistant Referees: Quinton Immelman, Ben Crouse
TMO: Deon van Blommestein

DHL Western Province Under 21:

EW Viljoen will line up in the No 14 jersey for the DHL Western Province Under 21 team in Saturday’s ABSA Provincial Under 21 Final against the Blue Bulls at DHL Newlands (kick-off 14:00 SA Time).

Viljoen, who played off the bench for DHL WP’s senior ABSA Currie Cup team last weekend, will start on the right wing, with Justin Geduld (fullback) and JP Lewis (left wing) joining him in an exciting back three for the defending champions.

DHL WP Under 21 coach John Dobson told wprugby.com: “We are fortunate that we are able to choose a relatively unchanged team that did a good job (in the Semi-Finals) last week without playing particularly well.

“There have been no more call-ups to the senior team and we have been able to welcome EW Viljoen back into the fold this week. As a result, Lihleli Xoli drops to the bench and WJ Strydom is very, very unlucky to miss out.

“Up front, the same pack starts with just two changes on the bench where Jade Kriel, a specialist lock, comes in to replace Devon Nash and (prop) Chippie Oelofse comes in for Wes Adonis.

“We are very excited about this game, obviously,” added Dobson.

“We have had a good season and it’s great that we get to test ourselves against the Bulls in what is an old, old rivalry. This group has always possessed a great work-ethic and it’s a tight group.

“We have been the best side on the competition over the season and we need to do all we can to crown that on Saturday against a strong, big Bulls team.”

The current DHL WP Under 21 management has been together since 2010. In that time, up until this weekend, they have played 27 matches, winning 25 games and lifted the ABSA Under 21 title on 2 previous occasions (including last year) in the process.

Looking ahead to this weekend, a third successive ABSA Under 21 Final between these 2 sides, Dobson said: “We are getting quite used to this scenario…

“Thanks to the fact that the Bulls senior team have not made an ABSA Currie Cup Final for many years and our seniors are now into a third final in a row, we get used to this where some of their ABSA Currie Cup players come down for the Under 21 Final.

“But we actually like it… our chaps enjoy this challenge!”

DHL Western Province Under 21 team:15 Justin Geduld, 14 EW Viljoen, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Kyle Lombard, 11 JP Lewis, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Jean Nel (Vice-captain), 8 Carel du Preez, 7 Justin Benn, 6 Eital Bredenkamp (Captain), 5 Jan Uys, 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 3 Deacon Chowles, 2 Michael Willemse, 1 John-Hubert Meyer
Replacements: 16 Michael Kennedy, 17 Niel Oelofse, 18 Jade Kriel, 19 Tapiwa Tsomondo, 20 SP Ferreira, 21 Lihleli Xoli, 22 Huw Jones

Referee: Lesego ‘Pro’ Legoete
Assistant Referees: Rodney Boneparte, Ben Crouse
TMO: Deon van Blommestein