Olympic medallists bolster WP side
Olympic Sevens Bronze medallists Cheslin Kolbe and Werner Kok will both start for DHL Western Province against the Eastern Province Kings, at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, in Port Elizabeth, on Saturday.
Kolbe will make his first start of the Currie Cup Premier Division after coming
off the replacements bench last week, whilst Kok will make his DHL Western
Province debut on the right wing.
The only other change to the backline sees Dan du Plessis come back from a
shoulder injury to reclaim his place at inside centre, with Huw Jones shifting
to outside centre.
In the forward pack Jurie van Vuuren gets a chance to start at flank, whilst JD
Schickerling returns from illness at lock and JC Janse van Rensburg makes his
first start of the season at loosehead prop.
There are changes on the replacements bench as well, with hooker Neil
Rautenbach back in DHL Western Province colours as front row cover, along with
Alistair Vermaak and a fit-again Oli Kebble. There will also be a DHL Western
Province debut for loose forward Stefan Willemse, should he be called on.
DHL Western Province coach John Dobson said that his team will need a clinical
performance if they are to come away with a crucial win in Port Elizabeth.
"We have challenged the players to raise their effort levels this weekend
against what is a tough Eastern Province Kings side.
"We have not been up to standard thus far this season, and that has to
change, starting at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday," he said.
Dobson is looking forward to seeing what the new faces in the team have to
offer.
"It is exciting to see the energy that the new players and those returning
from injury have brought on the training pitch, and hopefully that translates
into our performance this weekend," he added.
DHL Western Province:
15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin
Zas, 10 Brandon Thomson, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Jurie van
Vuuren, 6 Kobus van Dyk, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Wilco
Louw, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Oli Kebble, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Stefan Willemse, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Robert du Preez.