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Determined U21s to host Leopards

PUBLISHED: September 20, 2012


DHL Western Province Under-21 coach John Dobson has announced his team to take on the Leopards at DHL Newlands on Saturday (kick-off 12h45).

The WP U21s came up with their best performance of 2012 last Friday night – a 34-29, five-tries-to-three win over the log-leading Blue Bulls in Pretoria.

“We were obviously very pleased with last week’s win – it was one of the better ones in my tenure with the Under-21s,” said Dobson.

“To maul the Bulls, the log-leaders, like we did from a forwards’ perspective was fantastic but also it was a complete team performance which is exactly what we need given all the disruptions we’ve had over the season.

“I just have a feeling the team, whilst minus several stars, is beginning to settle after all the initial changes we’ve had to make.”

But Dobson has been forced into a few more changes this week, after losing star centre Kobus van Wyk to injury and with regular captain (and scrumhalf) Rick Schroeder starting from the bench to rest a few niggles.

Loosehead prop Frans van Wyk will skipper the side in Schroeder’s starting absence, whilst regular prop partner Ollie Kebble is also taking a break this week.

New names in the selection mix for Saturday are winger Dylan Sage and flanker Josh Katzen (the latter having impressed off the bench in Pretoria last weekend), whilst centre John-Ben Kotze, up from the DHL WP Under-19 side, is on the bench for the first time in his promising career.

Dobson concluded: “We’ve been further disrupted this week losing five players to injury, including Rick Schroeder our captain who has several niggles (and will initially start on the bench), but morale is high and we are determined to win at DHL Newlands.

“We would like to push for a home semifinal which makes Saturday essential – especially after that after the siren loss last time out (against the Lions) at Newlands.”

The DHL Western Province Under-21 team to take on the Leopards is as follows:

15. Dillyn Leyds
14. Dylan Sage
13. Patrick Howard
12. Nick Holton
11. Dean Hammond
10. Tim Swiel
9. Godlen Masimla
8. Rayn Smid
7. JP Swanepoel
6. Josh Katzen
5. Gerbrand Grobler
4. Jean Kleyn
3. Kelvin de Bruyn
2. Neil Rautenbach
1. Francois van Wyk (captain)

RESERVES:
16. Stephan Coetzee
17. Justin Ackerman
18. Jan de Klerk
19. Vince Jobo
20. Johannes Nel
21. Rick Schroeder
22. John-Ben Kotze

Referee: Lusanda Jam