Forgotten Springbok flank Solly Tyibilika will captain a South Eastern Cape selection against Western Province in a compulsory friendly in East London on Saturday.
Rugby 365 reports that Tyibilika, who saw his stocks plummet through a lack of discipline in recent years after falling foul of the management at both the Sharks and Lions, is the only international in the ‘home’ team.
The side is dominated by Eastern Province players, with just eight men from the Border Bulldogs in the 24-man squad.
The decision by the South Western Districts Rugby Union to withdraw their players from trials held in Port Elizabeth last weekend due to a financial dispute, is unfortunate as a combined side representing the three unions was seen as the first step to resurrecting the Southern-Eastern Cape Super 14 franchise, The Spears.
Their withdrawal has severely weakened the team in terms of ability and depth and a solution will have to be found in the interests of rugby in the area.
South Western Districts have indicated they will go it alone in their compulsory friendly against the Blue Bulls on June 6, while the East Cape side play their second compulsory friendly against the Lions in Port Elizabeth on June 13.
The Border/EP side is to be coached by former Western Province scrumhalf Stanley Raubenheimer and Western Province by former Springbok assistant coach, Allister Coetzee.
SEC squad: 15 Ryan Brown, 14 Eckardt Jacobs, 13 Noel de Villiers, 12 Claude Arendse, 11 Ziniko Dumpahi, 10 Ashwell Damons, 9 Sinethemba Jack, 8 Michael Vermaak, 7 Sebastian Hilpert, 6 Solly Tyibilika (captain), 5 Ashley Viviers, 4 Nomani Tonga, 3 Tarshrique Hearn, 2 Neil Jacobs, 1 Pumlani Nodikida.
Replacements – from: Jarryd Taylor, Buhle Mxunyelwa, Michael van Huyssteen, Sivuyile Kodokama, Marlin Lewis, Jeff Taljaard, Thabo Ratyana.
Meanwhile new Western Province head coach Allister Coetzee has named a very youthful team to play in a compulsory friendly against a South Eastern Cape selection in East London on Saturday.
“With a number of our senior contracted players either on duty with the Springbok squad, or on a planned two week post-Super 14 rest and recovery period, I have opted to play a largely younger and less experienced side in our first warm-up fixture,” Coetzee said.
“The game will give us the opportunity to assess the depth of talent we have available and will allow these players another opportunity to put their hands up for selection in this year’s Currie Cup.”
Western Province: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Wylie Human, 13 Dylan Des Fountain, 12 Morgan Newman, 11 Zhahier Ryland, 10 Ricardo Croy, 9 Alistair Siegelaar, 8 Justin Melck, 7 David Hendricks, 6 Pieter Myburgh, 5 Rito Hlungwani, 4 Francois van der Merwe, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Mark Goosen, 17 Wicus Blaauw, 18 Nico du Plessis, 19 Tyrone Holmes, 20 Danie van der Merwe, 21 PJ Vermeulen, 22 Richard Lawson.
Date: Saturday, May 31
Venue: Absa Stadium, East London
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Phillip Bosch
Touch judges: Christie Du Preez, Mandla Dakuse
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Naqelevuki extends contract
Fijian wing Sireli Naqelevuki has extended his contract with Western Province Rugby (Pty) Ltd until October 31 next year.
However, he has been called up to represent his country in the Pacific Nations Cup tournament in June, complicating matters for WP coach Allister Coetzee.
Rob Wagner, managing director of WP Rugby, confirmed on Wednesday that Naqelevuki’s contract had been extended.
This is good news for Coetzee but with the big Fijian away and ten other members of the Stormers team selected for the Springbok squad, Coetzee has to build a new WP backline.
Province play a combined Eastern Cape team in a friendly in East London on Saturday. Lock Francois van der Merwe, who has played Super 14 rugby, will captain the team.
“With several of our senior players called up for national duty and others resting after the Super 14, I’ve decided to select a young team for our first warm-up match,” Coetzee said on Wednesday.
“The match is an opportunity for us to test our depth and a chance for the players to show what they can do before the Currie Cup season starts.
Why call it a ‘compulsory friendly’? Makes it sound like something that the teams don’t want to play, but are forced to
Well they have been “forced” to play them. The Lions also have one.
Cause they’re oxymorons… 😉
What was EP rugby like in the VC… any up-n-comer’s?
Full Name Ashley
Surname Viviers
Height 199cm
Weight 97kg
Birth Date 10 November 1985
Birth City Port Elizabeth
Favourite Film Remember the Titans
Favourite Music Anything
Favourite Food Pasta
Primary School Dr Viljoen
Secondary School Daniel Pienaar THS
Click here for a list of squads this person has been in.
Full Name Nomani
Nick Name Norman
Surname Tonga
Weight 108kg
Birth Date 16 May 1983
Birth City Vava’u
Marital Status Single
Favourite Film The Simpson
Favourite Music 2 Pac
Favourite Food Roast Fig
Primary School Sacred Heart
Secondary School Tonga High School
Tertiary Education USP
(Couldn’t find his height… but why have the Bulldogs got 3 Tongan’s playing for them 😯 )
Full Name Noel Richard
Surname de Villiers
Height 186cm
Weight 98kg
Birth Date 7 February 1985
Birth City Port Elizabeth
Marital Status Single
Favourite Film Day After Tomorrow
Favourite Music Jack Johnson
Favourite Food Steak & Chips
Primary School Grey Junior
Secondary School Grey High
Tertiary Education Varsity College, Durban
Full Name Ryan Clifford
Surname Brown
Height 181cm
Weight 72kg
Birth Date 10 February 1987
Birth City Uitenhage
Marital Status Single
Favourite Film Next
Favourite Music R & B
Favourite Food Chip-Chow
Primary School Jubilee Park
Full Name Phumlani Eddie
Surname Nodikida
Height 188cm
Weight 113kg
Birth Date 4 December 1978
Birth City Peddie – Eastern Cape
Favourite Film Face Off
Favourite Music Gospel
Favourite Food Pasta
Primary School Macabangwana
Secondary School Qaphelani
Full Name Oshwell
Nick Name Ossie
Surname Damons
Height 184cm
Weight 80kg
Birth Date 25 November 1982
Birth City Cape Town
Marital Status Single
Favourite Film Braveheart
Favourite Music R&B
Favourite Food Pizza
Primary School Symphony Primary School
Secondary School Belhar High School
Full Name Michael
Surname Vermaak
Height 189cm
Weight 108kg
Birth Date 10 October 1979
Birth City Uitenhage
Marital Status Single
Favourite Film Any Given Sunday
Favourite Music U2
Favourite Food Pasta
Primary School Albertyn PS
Secondary School Brandwag HS
Tertiary Education Free State Technikon
What’s the SWD tiff all about?
@Ollie (Comment 6) :
Not enough fiscal ‘backhanders’ no doubt…
a 97kg lock? Crazy!
Roast Fig? And why so many pasta lovers? 🙄
@racheltjiedebeer (Comment 9) : huh?
@racheltjiedebeer (Comment 9) :
Steak going out of fashion
@robdylan (Comment 10) : Some of the ‘favourite foods’ listed in bryce’s comment.
@PJLD (Comment 11) : What is this world coming to? 👿
Pasta only makes me hungry.
probably meant to be roast pig… you know these Island types 😉
Lol… when I was looking through them I saw at least two ‘chip-chows’ as fav foods… had a good chuckle… no ‘Gatsby’s though yet…
@racheltjiedebeer (Comment 13) :
Its a crying shame hey.
I fight the good fight!had a gatsby dite night last week,yoh ,ive got enough carbs in me to run the comrades twice.
Please explain ‘Gatsby dite’? Sounds lekker.
brudda it is most woelag
mail me to [email protected] and ill send you pictures
here
I’ll be trying one in 3 weeks…lol… from Maria’s (was it PJ)?
@PJLD (Comment 19) : Are we still talking about food? 😀
Please send to racheltjiedebeer @ yahoo . co . uk
Thanks.
Oh oh… oops…
Now I’m hungry. 🙄
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 22) : LOOOOOONG Urls mess up our alignment 😉
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 20) :
Mariams
You’ve got mail rachel
@PJLD (Comment 26) : Thanks.
@robdylan (Comment 24) : Sorry… should have HTML’ed it…
@PJLD (Comment 25) :
Hehe yeah that’s the one… have found the bookmarked link…
Jinne but WP have a small back 3!??!