The Western Province rugby selectors are at the mercy of the Springboks who will only make a call on players’ services later this week.
WP coach Allister Coetzee, has already accepted backline stars Juan de Jongh and Gio Aplon will not be released by the Boks for their important Currie Cup match against the Blue Bulls, but he has named Francois Louw in the side for in Saturday’s ‘North – South’ clash at Newlands.
It is very likely the Bok selectors will inform the provinces on Friday and Coetzee has listed the name of Nick Koster alongside Louw’s in the event of the latter being required for national team duty.
Despite the absence of the Boks, Coetzee is confident the stand-in players will give a good account of themselves.
“We’ll miss them but you must bear in mind we started the season without them and we held our own,” said Coetzee.
“If Louw is required by the Boks we’re confident Koster will be an adequate replacement. He is a good ball carrier and offers a great line-out option.”
Wicus Blaauw is also back in the starting line-up at loosehead prop in place of JD Moller.
“The one thing I’m happy with (despite the disruptions) is that the balance of the team is still there.”
The Vodacom WP u19 and u21’s take on their Blue Bulls counterparts in two curtain raiser games at 13h00 and 14h45 respectively.
Tickets to Saturday’s game are selling fast, with limited seating and standing room tickets still available
Western Province: 15 Conrad Jantjes; 14 Fabian Juries, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Paul Bosch, 11 Frikkie Welsh, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Dewaldt Duvenhage , 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw/Nick Koster, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Anton van Zyl (captain), 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JD Moller, 18 Buhle Mxunuywa, 19 De Kock Steenkamp, 20 Nick Koster/Pieter Myburgh, 21 Conrad Hoffmann 22 Lionel Cronje.