Western Province coach Alister Cotezee has named his side to take on the Griffons in a compulsory friendly in Welkom on Friday night.
It’s not a particularly friendly-looking team, with the bulk of the tight five retained from the Stormers Super 14 team and an experienced set of halfbacks in Dewaldt Duvenage and Willem de Waal. Springbok fullback Conrad Jantjes makes his long-awaited return to rugby in the number 15 jersey, after being out injured for the better part of a year.
All in all, Province look like they will be able to field a competitive unit in this year’s Currie Cup, with centre and loose forward being the only areas where they might struggle a little. That’s pretty impressive, though, if you consider that they’ve contributed 9 players to the Bok squad, as well as losing Peter Grant and Joe Pietersen to overseas clubs.
Western Province:
15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. Fabian Juries, 13. Tim Whitehead, 12. Paul Bosch, 11. Marcel Brache, 10. Willem de Waal, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Rynardt Elstadt, 6. Pieter Louw, 5. Anton van Zyl (captain), 4. Adriaan Fondse, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg, 1. Wicus Blaauw
Substitutes: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. JD Moller, 18. JC Kritzinger, 19. Martin Muller, 20. Pieter Myburgh, 21. Conrad Hoffmann, 22. Lionel Cronje
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looks like a good team
i thought lionel cronje would be 1st choice 10
@war1 (Comment 1) : I’m actually surprised and a little bit mortified at how good this team actually looks. I was hoping WP would be a walkover this year with so many guys out.
There’s not a huge amount to write home about in that three-quarter line, though…
Solid looking team, I expect WP to challenge for the title – coming unstuck against the Sharks of course.
Province have raided the Lios in a big way in recent times. Captain is a former Lion as well. And all we hear about is those poaching sharks…..
@Mole (Comment 4) : this Currie Cup is going to be a very tight one, that’s for sure.
@Baldrick (Comment 5) : not just the Lions…
15. Conrad Jantjes (LIONS), 14. Fabian Juries (CHEETAHS), 13. Tim Whitehead, 12. Paul Bosch, 11. Marcel Brache, 10. Willem de Waal (CHEETAHS), 9. Dewaldt Duvenage (BOLAND), 8. Duane Vermeulen (CHEETAHS), 7. Rynardt Elstadt, 6. Pieter Louw, 5. Anton van Zyl (captain) (LIONS), 4. Adriaan Fondse (BULLS), 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg (CHEETAHS), 1. Wicus Blaauw
@Baldrick (Comment 5) : Lions, not Lios….
Schalk Brits, Jaque Fourie, Januarie, Jantjes, van Zyl…. who else an I missing?
Raiders of the lost ark
@Baldrick (Comment 8) : Brits has left… you know that, right?
Not a bad looking team at all. I am looking forward to seeing this backline in action.
De Waal also owes us a good season before he retires and moves to the Sharks! 😈
@wpw (Comment 11) : you’ve got that the wrong way round… we’re going to send you Rudi Keil at the end of next season
@wpw (Comment 11) : I’d liked to see that backline in reverse aswell 😉
@Baldrick (Comment 8) : Habana was a Lion aswell
I think the moral of the story is that EVERYONE poaches… and if you’re a useless team (read: Lions & Cheetahs) then expect to be plundered! 😆
@robdylan (Comment 7) : Willem de Waal, Dewaldt Duvenhage & Anton van Zyl played their schoolboy rugby within WP rugby borders, call them returning to their roots.