Western Province coach Allister Coetzee has been forced to make a late change at hooker ahead of Saturday’s Currie Cup clash against the Sharks at Newlands.
Tiaan Liebenberg has been ruled out with a back spasm, meaning Siyabonga Ntubeni will start in the No.2 jersey and young Michael Willemse will warm the bench.
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Ntubeni will make his fourth start of the season, whilst Willemse, a member of the South African Under-20 team earlier this year, will make his Currie Cup debut for WP after making four appearances during the 2013 Vodacom Cup.
“Tiaan’s back worsened a bit overnight, so we didn’t want to risk him [on Saturday],” Coetzee said on Friday.
“Scarra [Ntubeni] will slot in with ease, having started all but one game for us this season, whilst it’s an exciting opportunity for a younger player like Michael, who has come through the ranks at Vodacom Cup and Under-21 level.”
Western Province (revised): 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Deon Fourie (Captain), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Michael Willemse, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Gerbrandt Grobler, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Gary van Aswegen, 22 Michael van der Spuy.
Date: Saturday 7 September 2013
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Marc van Zyl
TMO: Deon van Blommestein