Absa Currie Cup-winning captain Juan de Jongh will lead DHL Western Province into battle in Sunday’s Sanlam Private Investments Challenge match against Saracens at Allianz Park (kick-off 13h00 local time; 15h00 SA time).
De Jongh has been on Barbarians duty but, along with powerhouse flanker Michael Rhodes, met up with his DHL WP teammates in London on Friday morning and he will now prepare for his final game of 2014.
The hot-stepping outside centre will lead a Province line-up showing four changes from last month’s Absa Currie Cup Final at DHL Newlands, with Dillyn Leyds (in for Cheslin Kolbe), Pat Howard (in for Seabelo Senatla), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (in for Nizaam Carr) and Vincent Koch (in for Pat Cilliers) all coming into the mix.
Tighthead prop Koch is one of three new faces in the DHL WP 23, with hooker Bongi Mbonambi and 20-year-old tighthead Wilco Louw – both named on the bench – also set to make their debuts in Blue & White hoops on Sunday.
“We’re all very excited and looking forward to the game,” said DHL Western Province coach Allister Coetzee told www.wprugby.com from London on Friday afternoon.
“Saracens are a well structured team with a strong kicking game. I’m expecting a big set-piece battle and it will also be interesting to see how the players adapt to the local law interpretations, with northern hemisphere referees allowing more of a contest on the ground.
“We certainly won’t change much from the Currie Cup, but, of course, there is also the small matter of playing on an artificial surface at Allianz Park, which is a faster track than normal and won’t be affected by the potentially inclement weather (this weekend).”
The team had a trouble-free journey from Cape Town to London – via Johannesburg – on Thursday evening and Coetzee remarked: “It’s great to be here, although it’s a bit colder than we’re used to at the moment!”
Sunday’s match will get underway at 13h00 UK time (15h00 SA time) and will be televised live on SuperSport One.
The DHL Western Province team will wear black armbands in honour of the late Tinus Linee, the legendary WP centre who passed away on Monday from Motor Neuron Disease, whilst both teams will observe a moment’s silence before kick-off at Allianz Park.
The DHL WP team for Sunday (v Saracens) is as follows:
15. Dillyn Leyds
14. Kobus van Wyk
13. Juan de Jongh (captain)
12. Jaco Taute
11. Pat Howard
10. Demetri Catrakilis
9. Nic Groom
8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
7. Michael Rhodes
6. Rynhardt Elstadt
5. Manuel Carizza
4. Jean Kleyn
3. Vincent Koch (On debut for DHL Western Province)
2. Scarra Ntubeni
1. Alistair Vermaak
Replacements:
16. Bongi Mbonambi (On debut for DHL Western Province)
17. Oli Kebble
18. Wilco Louw (On debut for DHL Western Province)
19. Gerbrandt Grobler
20. Jurie van Vuuren
21. Louis Schreuder
22. Kurt Coleman
23. Michael van der Spuy
Referee: Andrew Small (England)
Assistant referees: Andy Watson (England), Simon Mcconnell (England)
Television Match Official: David Sainsbury (England)
