DHL Western Province Under-19 coach Nazeem Adams is demanding more accuracy from his troops ahead of Saturday morning’s clash against the Blue Bulls Under-19s at DHL Newlands (kick-off 09h45).
Having retained their unbeaten record with a hard-fought 38-10 win over the EP Kings last week, coach Adams has welcomed back some key men from injuries as he looks for a big improvement on the ground from his team.
Adams explained: “EP managed to beat us on the ground last Friday. They bossed the breakdown and it meant we were not able to get any rhythm into our game.
“I have no doubt the Bulls will attempt to do the same, so we need improve our accuracy at the breakdown. It’s not about the personnel, it’s about our mindset and making a few adjustments in our technique which will help with that accuracy.”
The big names back this week for the ‘Province Babes’ are inside centre Daniel du Plessis, lock Johan Momsen and tighthead prop Francois van der Merwe.
“It’s three key men who are back,” Adams told www.wprugby.com.
“Although he came off the bench last week, we need Francois to start. Johan calls our line-outs, with JD Schickerling in the Under-21 team, and then, of course, we all know the class of Daniel du Plessis at centre.”
Hooker Daniel du Plessis (shoulder), tighthead prop Frans van Wyk (knee) and try-scoring wing Leolin Zas (finger) are the big names still sidelined with longer term injuries, but Adams has plenty of faith in his entire squad ahead of Saturday’s big clash.
“Yes, it’s a big game – North v South is a big game at any level,” admitted Adams, “but, for us, we will continue to worry about our own team and our own performances instead of looking at the opposition.”
* Saturday’s programme at DHL Newlands gets underway at 09h45, with the WP Under-19s in action against the Bulls Under-19s, before the WP Under-21 team takes on the Bulls U21s.
Of course, the main game is between DHL Western Province and Vodacom Blue Bulls – an Absa Currie Cup, Round Two clash – at 14h05.
Tickets are priced from just R35 (for standing), whilst seating prices range between R55, R65, R75 and R95 and can be purchased right now from wprugby.ticketpros.co.za.
Match tickets can also be bought directly from the DHL Newlands Box Office (opening times this week: Tuesday-Friday, 09h00-16h00 and Saturday, 09h00-14h30), or from selected Western Cape Spar stores and PostNet branches (nationwide).
The DHL WP Under-19 team for Saturday (v Blue Bulls) is as follows:
15. Adriaan Carelse
14. Dewald Naude
13. Jarryd Sage
12. Daniel du Plessis
11. Grant Hermanus
10. Ernst Stapelberg
9. Brendon Nell
8. Rikus Bothma (captain)
7. Luke Stringer
6. Charlton Jonas
5. Floris Pelser
4. Johan Momsen
3. Francois van der Merwe
2. Paul-Martin Wipplinger
1. Kyle Whyte
Replacements:
16. Hanno Snyman
17. Mihlali Mtongana
18. Lebohang Mdakane
19. Ruan du Preez
20. Dian Koen
21. Damian Stevens
22. Brandon Thomson
23. Ryan Oosthuizen
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
