DHL Western Province will field an unchanged line-up in Saturday’s ABSA Currie Cup FINAL against the Xerox Golden Lions in Johannesburg.
Coach John Dobson has wisely not tampered with the match-22 that beat the Vodacom Blue Bulls by 23 / 18 in last weekend’s semifinal, with outside centre Johnny Kotze (knock to the knee) cleared to take part in the final.
Kotze will start in his 1st-ever ABSA Currie Cup Final and he is 1 of 7 players doing so, whilst a total of 12 players in the matchday squad will be wearing Province colours in a final for the 1st time.
Dobson told the www.wprugby.com website: “We have a massive task ahead of us on Saturday, so it was good to retain this kind of (selection) continuity ahead of the final.
“The Lions deserve to be hosting this weekend’s final. They’re unbeaten and have been consistently brilliant throughout the season, so we are certainly up against it.”
The DHL WP Under 21s will also be involved in a final at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday (kick-off 11:15 SA Time), emulating their senior team’s achievement of 4 consecutive final appearances.
“There is a certain amount of resilience in this team of ours,” said Dobson, who was the DHL WP Under 21 coach from 2010 until 2014.
“I thought the guys showed good signs against the Bulls last week, but we certainly need to take it up a notch against this Lions side who will be looking to make up for last year’s final and ensure their current unbeaten run is rewarded with some silverware.”
Juan de Jongh will again skipper the DHL WP team on Saturday, with loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff playing in his final match for the union before he departs for France at the end of the season.
DHL Western Province: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Juan de Jongh (Captain), 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16 Michael Willemse, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Chris van Zyl, 19 Jurie van Vuuren, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Huw Jones.
Date: Saturday 24 October
Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Kick-Off: 13:45 SA Time (11:45 GMT)
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant Referees: Stuart Berry, Jason Jaftha
TMO: Marius Jonker
The one team has topped the league by a large margin
They were undefeated this season
They play at home..at altitude.. and at midday so it should be hot
They scored the most tries during the league and conceded the least
They thrashed the team they are facing tomorrow by more than 20 points only a few weeks ago.
What does it all mean?
It means that they are overwhelming favourites to win comfortably tomorrow…. on condition that they do not choke.
WP should win the under 21 finals fairly comfortably while the Kings will hopefully beat the Bulls in the under 19 final.
Everybody should root for the Kings as it will be great for SA rugby if they can win a competition with their home grown talent versus the mercenaries from the north.
It goes for you too Ben the one eyed Bull.
2: Thanks baie Rob, skop ons in ons blou ghoene terwyl ons nog lê en bloei, hehe.
Dink dit gaan so wees,
Bulle 0/19
WP 0/21
Leeus
Maar ja, in ‘n final kan enigiets gebeur. Hoop ons sien goeie rugby die hele dag. Begin met NZ se final van hul ITM Cup, Canterbury teen Auckland.
@ Ben-die-Bul:
Hoe weet jy as n kar oud is. As hy n bulls currie beker Kampioene sticker op sy bumber het.
@ nortie:
Ernstig, dis n ware storie!
Ek het eenkeer so n kar gesien by Yskorwerke in Pretoria- Wes, n kanariegeel Nissan Skylune 2.8 GTX….buiten die Bloubulplakkers, was daar groot blou plakkers onderaan beide voordeure, “Powered by Ford”!
@ nortie:
Hoe weet jy dat ‘n kar se eienaar in ‘n fantasie wereld vol denkbeeldige dinge leef? As hy ‘n Stormers Super Rugby Champions sticker op sy bumper het.
Ek moet seker nie spot nie. Ons Vrystaat ondersteuners het mos maar min om mee te spog, tensy mens afstam van een van daardie Bittereinder geslagte vir wie swaarkry lekker is.
Vrystaat wrote:
Nope, net die Bulle wat so n sticker kon laat maak, maar weereens as jy n kar met so n bumper sticker sien dan weet jy dis ook n ou kar
nortie wrote:
Hoekom sal jy daai kar wil vervang as dit anyway die enigste een van sy soort op die pad is? 😆
MacroPolo wrote:
3L Ford met n spoiler en mags?
@ nortie:
With a litre Klippies and a 2 litre Coke between the front seats?
Scrumdown wrote:
Net so
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