John Dobson

New DHL Western Province head coach John Dobson has selected a powerful combination for Saturday’s ABSA Currie Cup pre-season clash against the EP Kings in Port Elizabeth (kick-off 19:00 SA Time).

Having fielded a largely untried DHL WP XV selection against the Steval Pumas last weekend, Dobson has recalled most of his 1st-choice players for Saturday’s meeting.

Squad captain Juan de Jongh will team up with national skipper Jean de Villiers in the DHL WP midfield, with powerhouse flanker Rynhardt Elstadt named at No 6 upon his return from a leg injury which saw him miss most of the 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby season.

“It’s great to have Juan take charge and to welcome back Rynhardt Elstadt,” Dobson told the www.wprugby.com website.

“(Prop) JP Smith and (backs) Louis Schreuder, Johnny Kotze and Dillyn Leyds were not considered due to their niggles, which, fortunately, are not of a long-term nature, whilst (hooker) Mikey Willemse, as we know, picked up an injury last weekend which will see him out for 8 to 10 weeks.”

Oli Kebble, Bongi Mbonambi and Entienne Swanepoel will pack down in the front row, with Jean Kleyn and Ruan Botha forming an exciting 2nd row combination and Springbok Nizaam Carr, DHL WP’s new vice-captain, returning at No 8.

Looking at the rest of the team, with Sikhumbuzo Notshe and Kobus van Wyk the only players retained in the starting line-up from last weekend, Dobson explained: “Our plan was always to play a lot of the guys who wore heavy loads in Super Rugby and even in this game we will manage their game time.

“We have worked hard this week, possibly too much for a match week, but it’s important that we work back from our 1st game on 7 August as our main goal and not get too trapped into focusing solely on friendlies.

“Look, it’s a strong side and not far off our best available one and we want to see progress in the departments that we have been working on in the past few weeks,” added Dobson. “Every team seems to be talking about how they want to change how they play. Ours is more focused on getting better at what we do rather than some revolution.”

The DHL WP squad is currently in Plettenberg Bay, having spent the past few days on a mini pre-season camp ahead of their 2nd – and final – pre-season friendly.

“It’s been a good camp; there’s been some hard work and quite a few laughs,” said Dobson.

“It’s a happy group but it has to be reflected in how they play, defend and clean breakdowns for each other. I hope to see signs of that on Saturday.”

DHL Western Province will open their 2015 ABSA Currie Cup campaign on Friday 7 August against the winners of the Currie Cup Qualifying Tournament (either Griquas or the Leopards).

DHL WP XV: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh (Captain), 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr (Vice-captain), 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Entienne Swanepoel, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oli Kebble
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Justin Benn, 21 Rayn Smid, 22 Jano Vermaak, 23 Kurt Coleman, 24 Jaco Taute, 25 Huw Jones, 26 Godlen Masimla, 27 EW Viljoen.

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant Referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Local