DHL Western Province coach Allister Coetzee has kept the changes to a minimum for Saturday’s 2014 ABSA Currie Cup Final clash against the Xerox Golden Lions at DHL Newlands (kick-off 17:00 SA Time).
In the only change to the starting XV that beat the Blue Bulls by 31-23 last weekend, fit-again centre Jaco Taute returns in the No 12 jersey to resume his partnership with skipper Juan de Jongh, who will be playing in his 50th match in the Blue & White hoops of DHL Western Province.
Michael van der Spuy reverts to the bench for Saturday’s final, where he is joined by lock Gerbrandt Grobler, who comes into the matchday squad at the expense of prop Oli Kebble, who came off the bench last weekend.
No 8 Nizaam Carr, who left the field in the first half of last week’s semifinal, has been passed fit for the final, with coach Coetzee praising the consistency in selection during the business-end of the 2014 ABSA Currie Cup.
“We’ve had some tough calls to make, especially last week, but we are fortunate to have not made many changes these past two weeks,” said the DHL WP boss, who will be guiding his team into a third successive final this weekend.
“Jaco is fit and takes his place at inside centre again and we’re fortunate to have a guy like Michael van der Spuy backing him up, with Jaco providing additional back-up given his versatility across the backline.”
DHL WP and the Lions will lock horns for the third time this ABSA Currie Cup season, with both teams winning once up until now, but, according to Coetzee, the hosts are looking forward to Saturday’s Finals Day which will see the DHL WP Under 19 (kick-off 12:15 SA Time), Under 21 (14:00 SA Time) and Senior (17:00 SA Time) teams involved in all three finals on offer.
“It’s a challenge that we’re embracing and one that we’re excited about. You can’t ask for more than running out at a packed DHL Newlands. This side has matured well this season and we’re really looking forward to Saturday,” Coetzee told www.wprugby.com.
“The Lions have been a very consistent team this year – in terms of their selection and performances and we’re expecting a ferocious onslaught from them. They play a similar brand to us, so we should be in for a great final.”
Season ticket holders had until Wednesday 22 October (at 12:00 SA Time) to purchase their regular seats for the final, with those remaining tickets and other allocated tickets released for sale back to the general public – from 09:00 this (Thursday) morning.
As of Thursday morning at 11:00, 4 000 seating tickets were still available for sale, along with 1 000 standing tickets for the final. Tickets can be purchased online at http://wprugby.ticketpros.co.za, from selected PostNet outlets and the DHL Newlands box office in Boundary Road, Newlands (09:00 to 16:00).
DHL Western Province: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh (Captain), 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Pat Cilliers (Vice-captain), 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Alistair Vermaak
Replacements: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Gerbrandt Grobler, 19 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Michael van der Spuy.
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant Referees: Jaco Peyper, Lesego ‘Pro’ Legoete
TMO: Deon van Blommestein
Viljoen wings it for DHL Western Province Under-21s
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 14h00).
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 http://www.wprugby.com: “We are fortunate that we are able to choose a relatively unchanged team that did a good job (in the semifinals) 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 U21 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 U21 title on two previous occasions (including last year) in the process.
Looking ahead to this weekend, a third successive Absa Under-21 Final between these two 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 U21 Final.
“But we actually like it… our chaps enjoy this challenge!”
how’s that for a coaching record?
25 out of 27… plus to titles…
WP better sign John up for a looong contract… and get him into the SR or CC mix quickly…
well done to dobbo and his staff… and team(s)…
good luck for saturday…!
@ ufo:
Howzit mate,
What are the chances of a hat trick on Saturday?
Of wins, of course. 🙄
@ ufo:
Agree, I’d like to see him involved in the Super Rugby in some capacity. Good business practice determines that you have a proper succession plan in place. Don’t even think that WPRU know the meaning of all that.
3 @ IAAS:
always good bud… thanks… you…?
here’s hoping…!!! nervous… but believe our back 3 will be the difference…
we’ll have to see…!!
4 @ IAAS:
yeah… would be a huge pity to lose him to another franchise…
but can’t see the current SR coaching team welcoming him into the fold…
maybe give him the CC team next year… ❓
Twee goeie spanne, op die dag kan dit na enige kant gaan.
Dink wel die WP is gunstelinge, want
1. tuisveld, as daardie 30 000 PW ondersteuners eers begin raas met hul 10 tande altesaam, dan maak dit ‘n verskriklike angswekkende geluid. PRRRROOOOOO-winsccch, hik ….
2. Pro Legoete
3. Leeus moes vir Kwagga gekies het, groot fout, daai mannetjie het BMT. PW se telletubby skrum is klaar swak genoeg, twee Leeus stutte vir die game is oor as genoeg. Moes vir Kwagga en nog ‘n vinnige agterspeler gekies het om die Pap Wiele se goeie 11,13,14,15 in toom te hou.
Maar ek bly by my voorspelling, waar almal ‘n plekkie in die son kry, waar almal share in ons nuwe ou land,
0/19: Bulle met 8
0/21: WP met 2
seniors: Leeus met 5
@ IAAS: hell, you said it. Must be the rich vein of talent in the region. Cannot be the managerial skill.
@ ufo: assuming they enjoy enough ball we’ll get there. But that’s just an assumption because I think the Lions hold the upper hand in the fattie department.
Dobson is a great coach operating behind a top notch rugby pedigree. With his involvement success is almost a given. Some people have it.
@ Tassies:
I agree Dobbo has an excellent rugby brain. I trust that Gert has spoken to him about his future when Gert had his “one-on-ones” with all the staff.
We can’t afford to lose him! He has to get involved at at least CC level next year
@ charlesm: one would like to think so.
@ Tassies:
I made a comment to Gert in that regard the other day – I tried my best to put it as nicely as possible – if you know what I mean: “John has been very successful…some other unions must surely be looking at him” – it got him thinking (fingers crossed)
@ charlesm: well, if it only got him thinking after your prompt, then I am extremely worried about Oom Gert’s visionary skills.
@ Tassies:
I knew that came it out in the wrong way – he said a few other things too but I don’t want to elaborate. I can’t always express myself so well in my 2nd language
@ charlesm:
Came out in the wrong way….
@ charlesm: There is certainly no need to apologise about the way you express yourself. If english is your second language then I for one would never have noticed. I wish I could claim second language skills of the same order. Sadly I’m not up to it. Gert is a good coach from track record. Lets hope that trend continues.
Balie is n stoutgat!
Balie’s comments upset WP
2014-10-24 10:39
The Great WP-Lions Debate!
Fans say it will be the Lions!
Cape Town – Western Province are a bit perturbed by the fact that Balie Swart, a scrum consultant for the SA Rugby Union, has praised the Golden Lions scrum ahead of Saturday’s Currie Cup final
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