Rugby news from Western Province:
Van Zyl takes charge for DHL WP:
Captain Chris van Zyl will make his first start for DHL Western Province this season against Xerox Golden Lions at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.
Having played off the replacements bench in the last game against the iCollege Pumas, lock Van Zyl takes over the captaincy for the Currie Cup clash in Johannesburg which kicks off at 15h00 on Saturday.
Click here for an exclusive Chris Van Zyl Video
Van Zyl will partner JD Schickerling in the second row, with Ernst van Rhyn shifting to blindside flank and Kobus van Dyk at openside. Salmaan Moerat and Chris Massyn will provide cover on the replacements bench.
There is one change to the front row as Michael Kumbirai comes back into the starting line-up at tighthead and Carlu Sadie makes his first appearance of the season among the replacements.
The only change to the backline sees Dan Kriel back at inside centre, with scrumhalf Paul de Wet getting an opportunity on the replacements bench.
DHL Western Province Head Coach John Dobson said that it will take an 80-minute performance to challenge the Xerox Golden Lions at Emirates Airline Park.
“We know that we will have to be accurate in all areas and sustain our effort until the final whistle if we are to come away with a win this weekend.
“Our preparations have gone well following our bye last week, but the key will be putting those plans into action on Saturday,” he said.
DHL Western Province: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 SP Marais, 10 Josh Stander, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Kobus van Dyk, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Chris van Zyl (captain), 3 Michael Kumbirai, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Chris Massyn, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Dan du Plessis.
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DHL WP U21 unchanged for Golden Lions U21:
An unchanged DHL Western Province U21 side will take on Xerox Golden Lions U21 at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.
Having claimed a narrow 30-27 victory against Toyota Free State Cheetahs U21 last week, DHL Western Province U21 Head Coach Jerome Paarwater has opted for continuity for the Johannesburg encounter, which kicks off at 12h30 on Saturday.
While there are no changes to the starting line-up, there is one new face on the replacements bench as prop Leon Lyons comes in for Carlu Sadie who is playing for the senior DHL Western Province team.
Paarwater said that his team will have their work cut out for them if they are to make it three wins from three matches this season.
“It is great to have some continuity in selection as we look to build some proper momentum, but this will be a serious test of our team’s abilities.
“It is always tough to win away from home and we know that Xerox Golden Lions U21 will provide a stern challenge, but we are looking forward to what should be a hard match,” he said.
DHL Western Province U21: 15 Joshua Vermeulen, 14 Nico Leonard, 13 David Brits, 12 Lyle Hendricks, 11 Sihle Njezula, 10 Jordan Chait, 9 Jondre Williams, 8 Zain Davids, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Nama Xaba (captain), 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Jordan Sesink Clee, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Kwenzo Blose.
Replacements: 16 Daniel Jooste, 17 Wikus Groenewald, 18 Leon Lyons, 19 Pieter Swanepoel, 20 Labib Kannemeyer, 21 Markus Labuschagne, 22 Tristan Leyds.
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Horn returns to lead DHL WP U19:
DHL Western Province U19 captain Francke Horn is back for the clash with Xerox Golden Lions U19 at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.
The skipper and No.8 returns from injury in one of six changes to the DHL Western Province U19 team for the game in Johannesburg, which kicks off at 10h30 on Saturday.
The only other change to the forward pack sees Chris Rossouw start at hooker, with Ru-Hann Greyling among the replacements.
In the backline a fit-again Christian Ambadiang is on the right wing, with David Kriel shifting to the left wing and Rikus Pretorius at outside centre, while David Coetzer starts at flyhalf.
DHL Western Province U19 Head Coach Nazeem Adams said that his team is determined to put in a big shift at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.
“The players have really put in a lot of hard work this week in preparation for this trip, so we are keen to see the results of that on Saturday.
“It is always tough to play the Xerox Golden Lions U19 away from home, so we will need to get all the detail right up there,” he said.
DHL Western Province U19: 15 Quan Eyman, 14 Christian Ambadiang, 13 Rikus Pretorius, 12 Waqar Solaan, 11 David Kriel, 10 David Coetzer, 9 Lucky Dlepu, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Tonderai Chiwumbutsa, 6 Henro Meyer, 5 Marcel Theunissen, 4 Ian Kitwanga, 3 Hugo Pienaar, 2 Chris Rossouw, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements: 16 Ru-Hann Greyling, 17 Alexander Mbete, 18 Cameron Moodie, 19 Ross Taylor, 20 Nathan Solomons, 21 Gerado Jaars, 22 Christopher Schreuder, 23 Divan Enslin.
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