Bok-laden WP await Leopards
Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:31
Magic man: Western Province centre Juan de Jongh.
The return of a number of Springboks and a heavy axe have combined to see a much-changed Western Province team take on the Leopards in a Currie Cup encounter at Newlands on Saturday.
Centres Juan de Jongh and Jean de Villiers, along with wing Gio Aplon all return from the Bok team and straight into a WP starting XV that shows nine changes from that which lost 28-46 to the Lions last week.
The bulk of the changes are in the backline - with only scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage retaining his place.
Conrad Hoffmann will start at fullback, with Conrad Jantjes moving to the right wing in place of JJ Engelbrecht. Tim Whitehead and Paul Bosch make way in the midfield for De Jongh and De Villiers, while Frikkie Welsh is replaced by Aplon.
The most significant change is at flyhalf, where young Lionel Cronje replacement Willem de Waal in the No.10 jersey.
Nick Koster, a late injury-enforced withdrawal last week, returns to the starting XV. He will slot in on the blindside flank, with Francois Louw moving to openside and Pieter Myburgh dropping out of the matchday 22.
The final change is at tighthead prop, where JC Kritzinger starts ahead of Brok Harris.
Having lost against a much improved Lions side last weekend, Province will be looking to re-establish the early season winning momentum.
They are still in second place on a now very congested log - WP, the Free State Cheetahs and Blue Bulls are all on 28 points, separated only by points difference, the Lions (25) and Griquas (24) not far behind.
Province will look to capitalise on the return of their non-contracted Boks to bolster the team and earn valuable points in the race to the play-offs.
Western Province: 15 Conrad Hoffmann, 14 Conrad Jantjes, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Nick Koster, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Anton van Zyl (captain),
4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 JC Kritzinger, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 JD Moller.
Replacements: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Wicus Blaauw, 18 Brok Harris, 19 De Kock Steenkamp, 20 Yaya Hartzenberg, 21 Willem De Waal, 22 Paul Bosch.
Date: Saturday, September 11
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00)
Referee: Sindile Mayende
Assistant referees: François Veldsman, Eugenia Daniels
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