DHL Western Province head coach John Dobson has named an unchanged starting line-up for Saturday’s ABSA Currie Cup clash against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs at DHL Newlands.
Dobson has rightly kept faith with the starting line-up that did duty against ORC Griquas last weekend, but lock Jan de Klerk and back Kobus van Wyk come onto the bench against the Cheetahs.
De Klerk replaces Chris van Zyl in a rotational switch, whilst Van Wyk comes in for Johnny Kotze, who took a bang to his head at training on Monday.
Dobson told the www.wprugby.com website: “We have a plan, in terms of game time for certain players moving forward. But, at the same time, we need some continuity in our team and performances, so we have retained the same starting line-up from last week with just those 2 changes on the bench.
“I said after last week’s Griquas game that we need to make an improvement and we have worked on those issues – most notably our discipline – during the week and we hope to put that in place against the Cheetahs.
“Forget the Cheetahs’ loss to the Bulls – it was a freakish game in many ways. The Cheetahs are always a tough team and they’re always up for playing against Province at DHL Newlands – it tends to raise their game in a way too.”
Dobson will be in charge of the senior DHL Western Province ABSA Currie Cup team at their DHL Newlands home for the 1st time in his coaching career and he is looking forward to the experience this weekend.
“For me, having grown up in the Cape, it truly is a big honour to be coaching the senior ABSA Currie Cup team at this historic ground of ours,” he said.
“However, I am particularly excited about feeling the full force of the DHL Newlands Faithful behind us. As coaches, especially as a new coaching unit, we know the responsibilities that go with coaching at this union – and coaching at DHL Newlands – and we would love to open our 2015 home campaign on a high.”
Saturday’s rugby day action between DHL Western Province and the Toyota Free State Cheetahs gets underway at 10:45 SA time, starting with ABSA Provincial Under 19 action. The DHL WP Under 21s and Cheetahs will lock horns in the ABSA Provincial Under 21 competition at 12:45 SA Time, before the main game gets underway at 15:00 SA Time.
Match tickets, priced between R 40.00 (for standing) and R 60.00 – R 100.00 (for seats), can still be purchased – either online, at http://wprugby.computicket.com, or from Computicket outlets and Shoprite & Checkers stores nationwide.
DHL Western Province: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Juan de Jongh (Captain), 12 Jaco Taute, 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 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oli Kebble
Replacements: 16 Marius Fourie, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Jan de Klerk, 19 Chris Cloete, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Kobus van Wyk.
Date: Saturday 15 August
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-Off: 15:00 SA Time (13:00 GMT)
Referee: Jaco van Heerden
Assistant Referees: AJ Jacobs, Rodney Boneparte
TMO: Willie Vos