Kobus van Wyk
Wing Kobus van Wyk is back in the DHL Western Province line-up for Friday evening’s ABSA Currie Cup clash against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
DHL WP, the defending ABSA Currie Cup champions, will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat to the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Pretoria and Van Wyk’s inclusion is 1 of 3 changes to the starting line-up this time around.
The hard-running Van Wyk comes in for Dillyn Leyds on the right-wing, scrumhalf Godlen Masimla replaces Nic Groom, who is on Barbarians duty in London, and Alistair Vermaak starts at loosehead prop in place of the injured Oli Kebble.
Kebble’s hamstring has not recovered sufficiently from the weekend, whilst exciting talent Masimla will make his 1st ABSA Currie Cup start for DHL Western Province in the absence of both Groom and Jano Vermaak, who injured his finger against the Vodacom Blue Bulls.
Fit-again halfback Louis Schreuder is the new scrumhalf replacement and he will be joined on the bench by ABSA Currie Cup debutant JP Smith – the new prop replacement – and lock Jan de Klerk, who comes in for the injured Chris van Zyl (knee).
Leyds, 1 of his team’s 2 try-scorers last weekend, reverts to the bench to make way for Van Wyk, who is back to full fitness, and like Masimla, deserved of a 1st start of DHL WP’s 2015 campaign, with Huw Jones missing out on the matchday squad.
DHL Western Province coach John Dobson told the www.wprugby.com website: “Enough has been said about last weekend’s defeat. We were not good enough and we all know that.
“It’s a short turnaround this week, so we have not harped on things too much, preferring, instead, to get to work and put things right.
“The guys have trained well so far and the new faces have brought some new energy too, so we’re looking forward to putting things right in Bloemfontein.
“We all know what Kobus van Wyk is capable of with his direct running from the wing, but as a coaching staff, we’re particularly excited about Godlen Masimla’s 1st start at this level. Dawie Snyman and I first spotted him as a raw 20-year-old in 2012 and he has come through the ranks from UWC, our Under 21s and our Vodacom Cup set-up. This is a great opportunity for him to show what he can do.”
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs, who lost in the rain to DHL WP in Round 2 of the 2015 ABSA Currie Cup, bounced back to form last weekend with a bonus point victory over the ORC Griquas and Dobson has warned of a tough challenge awaiting his team.
“The Cheetahs will be eyeing up this match as a one to win – they’re at home against a team that lost heavily a few days ago and they ran us close in Cape Town 2 weeks ago,” he said.
“At the same time, we know we need to win and win well, but we need to remain controlled and focused on the plan at hand in order to prevent a repeat of last week.”
DHL Western Province: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Nizaam Carr (Captain), 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Alistair Vermaak
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 JP Smith, 18 Jan de Klerk, 19 Chris Cloete, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Dillyn Leyds.
Date: Friday 28 August
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-Off: 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant Referees: Sindile Ngcese, Pieter Maritz
TMO: Willie Vos