Western Province coach Allister Coetzee has had to make a couple injury enforced changes to the team that played against the Leopards last week, with De Kock Steenkamp being the only returnee from injury who reclaims his starting spot from Quinn Roux.
The backline and loose trio remain the same from last week, with Brok Harris returning to the starting line up after a little break last week, and ginger kid Steven Kitshoff returns from u21 duty thanks to Wicus Blaauw being ruled out of the rest of the competition with a wrist injury and subsequent operation.
The rotational policy that Coetzee had going with Tiaan Liebenberg and Deon Fourie thankfully seems to have been put on hold with Liebenberg maintaining his starting spot and the captaincy for the fourth week running.
On the bench Coetzee has opted for the 5-2 split with speedster Steven Hunt having been ruled out probably nudging him towards that option. There are a bunch of promising u21 stars featured on the bench, Frans Malherbe, Nizaam Carr, Siya Kolisi, Roux, Nic Groom and Berton Klaasen all from the current u21 squad, which bodes very well for Western Province’s future.
Starting XV:
15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. Danie Poolman, 13. Johann Sadie, 12. Marcel Brache, 11. JJ Engelbrecht, 10. Isma-eel Dollie, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Nick Koster, 7. Tertius Daniller, 6. Nick Fenton-Wells, 5. De Kock Steenkamp, 4. Hilton Lobberts, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg (C), 1. Steven Kitshoff
Reserves:
16. Deon Fourie, 17. Frans Malherbe, 18. Nizaam Carr, 19. Siya Kolisi, 20. Quinn Roux, 21. Nic Groom, 22. Berton Klaasen
Kick Off: Saturday, 17:00 – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
Almost had it right. Sharksworld has WP team up before WP site. Winning
Should be a great game. Go Bulls!
@Ben (Comment 2) : Shoosh you!
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 1) :
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 3) : Its for the greater good Claytie!
@Ben (Comment 2) :
Be gone you Philistine!
@wpw (Comment 6) :
@Ben (Comment 5) : I so want to see this high school team win at Loftus.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 1) :
Respect!
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 1) :
Quite close..
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 8) : I also want to see that, BUT unfortunately I want the Sharks to leapfrog Province on the log even more!
@Ben (Comment 11) : I would be happy to see you request declined
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 12) : I second that!
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 12) : @molly (Comment 13) : I’m being outnumbered on SHARKSWORLD!
@Ben (Comment 14) : we all wait patiently for a thread to own and then gang up
@Ben (Comment 14) :
I’m afraid I’m with Molly and Clay.. nothing worse than a Bulls victory..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 16) :
@molly (Comment 13) :
My vote is in…
@Ben (Comment 14) : Ben, I hate too see Bulls win so I’m with you… How bout a lekke “kiss my sister” draw… That’l do us some good
@Franshark (Comment 19) :
I’m down for that. Now, where’s your suster then?
Sharks need to beat the Cheetahs first before they can start dreaming of overtaking WP this weekend.
Besides, it’s all pointless.
The Lions are unstoppable.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 16) : Thats why we like you
@McLovin (Comment 22) :
@Big Fish (Comment 20) : BF his comment was intended for my eyes!
@Franshark (Comment 19) : Where’s your sis?
So the game is played in Durban – then a draw it will be…according to SW anyway!
@McLovin (Comment 22) : Indeed they are, may ass well give us the cup now
@Greg (Comment 27) : I read “my ass will give us”…
@Franshark (Comment 19) : How about we infest the field with bees. The game gets called off and a draw is the result. You game?
@Greg (Comment 27) : Exactly.
@Ice Ice Bokkie (Comment 28) : the second ‘s’ is for added emphasis!
@McLovin (Comment 30) : You are very desperate! Rather give the cup to the likes of the Lions than losing a final against the Sharks …again…ne!!
@Big Fish (Comment 20) :
@Ben (Comment 29) : Yea that’l work too
@Ice Ice Bokkie (Comment 32) : I see that too
I thought AC had decided to turf Dollie and play Dewald at 10?
I might finally see what Dollie looks like. I don’t think there has ever been a more hyped up player that I’ve never seen play before.
@robdylan (Comment 36) :
Clearly you thought wrong!!
Dollie is the future Bok flyhalf. You guys better get used to it!
@Ice Ice Bokkie (Comment 32) : Just trying to save all the other teams the embarrassment of trying to stop the juggernaut that is the Lions.
@robdylan (Comment 36) : That was merely a rumour
The Bully Boys are going to be running at Dolly all day.
@McLovin (Comment 41) : Hulle kan maar kom, hy gaan uithaal en wys!
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 42) : Hoop so.
Dolly is probably the only person who can stop the Lions.
@McLovin (Comment 44) : Same say he once stopped an actual Lion
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 45) :
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 45) : That was last year, before they became an unstoppable force
@wpw (Comment 38) :
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 45) : I remember that, 3rd row in “toys for us”