Fit-again flanker Josh Katzen will captain the DHL Western Province Under-21 team in Pretoria this weekend, as the table toppers take on the Blue Bulls U21s at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (kick-off 14h45).
Katzen missed his team’s wins against the Leopards (54-35) and the FS Cheetahs (32-13) over the past fortnight and his return at No.6 is one of eight changes – one of which is positional – to the Province line-up this week.
The WP captain – who had a rib injury – replaces Justin Benn in the No.6 shirt, with Jurie van Vuuren moving from lock to flank and Jean Kleyn and Ruan Botha teaming up in the second row for the first time this season.
WP Under-21 coach John Dobson has opted for a five/two split on his bench this week, with Oliver Kebble, Stephan Coetzee and Entienne Swanepoel starting in the front row and Freddie Kirsten, Justin Ackerman and Sti Sithole more than able back-ups.
Dobson told www.wprugby.com: “It’s great to have Josh back for a big game like this – the Bulls in Pretoria is always a massive challenge, so we need all hands on deck.
“We have beefed up our pack by playing Jurie van Vuuren at loose forward and Sikhumbuzo Notshe will have a massive role to play for us in the second half. Games are often won or lost in the last 20/30 minutes and a player like Notshe could make a massive difference for us with his abilities with ball in hand.
“Ruan Botha was excellent on his return to action this week, but I don’t expect him to go the full eighty minutes this week. However, Jurie is an 80-minute player and he will shift back to lock when Notshe comes on.”
Meanwhile, in changes to the WP backline this week, Dillyn Leyds is back from injury and he will line up at fullback, with Craig Barry shifting to the right-wing where he takes over from JP Lewis who took a knock to the jaw in Potchefstroom.
Currie Cup player Pat Howard continues in the No.13 jersey, but he will have a new centre partner this week in the shape of Kyle Lombard, with regular No.12 Kobus van Wyk sitting out with a hamstring injury.
“I think we’re very fortunate to have considerable depth in certain positions – like at centre, with Kyle coming in for Kobus, and at flank where players like Justin Benn and Carel du Preez are not even in the matchday 22,” said Dobson.
The WP U21s are the pace-setters in the 2013 Provincial Under-21 Competition, with 34 points from eight matches – thanks to seven wins and one narrow loss. The Bulls are in second place, with 25 points from seven games.
Said Dobson: “A victory for us would take us a step closer to a home semifinal – it’s been our goal from the start of the season and we’re not about to take our foot of the gas with the finish post in sight.
“We know the Bulls are a good team, with a big pack. But they’re a much tougher proposition at home and, of course, they will have semifinal ambitions of their own (too).”
The DHL Western Province Under-21 team to take on the Blue Bulls is as follows:
15. Dillyn Leyds
14. Craig Barry
13. Pat Howard
12. Kyle Lombard
11. Devon Williams
10. Tim Swiel
9. Godlen Masimla
8. Rayn Smid
7. Jurie van Vuuren
6. Josh Katzen (captain)
5. Ruan Botha
4. Jean Kleyn
3. Entienne Swanepoel
2. Stephan Coetzee
1. Oliver Kebble
Replacements:
16. Freddie Kirsten
17. Justin Ackerman
18. Sti Sithole
19. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
20. Eital Bredenkamp
21. Jean Nel
22. Johnny Kotze
Referee: Lesego ‘Pro’ Legoete