John Dobson, the DHL Western Province Under-21 coach, has announced his team to take on the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Friday (kick-off 17h05).
The DHL WP U21 team have had a difficult season so far, with senior Absa Currie Cup call-ups and injuries playing havoc with their team selections on a weekly basis.
They have, however, managed two wins from four starts; both those wins coming away from home and showing the character of the players involved – despite their growing injury-list.
“One doesn’t use the word ‘decimated’ lightly, but it’s almost applicable here where we have worked out that we are without 18 players who would have played tomorrow were it not for injury or higher call-ups,” said Dobson.
“It’s sad to see kids end their last age-group seasons (because of injury) when they had been so looking forward to it. In fact, I think someone like Mikey van der Spuy has also been a loss to the Currie Cup side.
“Having said that, despite all the disruptions we should still have beaten the Sharks and that in a way, whilst frustrating, is encouraging in that it was in our power,” added Dobson. “But to concede so many penalties and line-outs made it impossible but fixable.
“With all the disruptions this week [six players out this week from last week], tomorrow night is a very hard game. But this team has real spirit and will and we won’t not win for lack of trying… we want to do something special.”
Scrumhalf Ricky Schroeder will captain a team showing six changes – two positional – from the starting line-up that went down narrowly, by 14-18, to the Sharks at DHL Newlands last Saturday.
In some good news, influential No 8 Rayn Smid is back from injury, whilst David Ambunya and Nick Holton will combine at centre in a new-look combination with Kobus van Wyk injured and Dean Hammond shifting to the right-wing in place of Dillyn Leyds.
The DHL Western Province Under-21 team to take on the Free State Cheetahs is as follows:
15. Craig Barry
14. Dean Hammond
13. David Ambunya
12. Nick Holton
11. Devon Williams
10. Tim Swiel
9. Ricky Schroeder (captain)
8. Rayn Smid
7. JP Swanepoel
6. Johannes Nell
5. Gerbrand Grobler (vice-captain)
4. Jan de Klerk
3. Oliver Kebble
2. Neil Rautenbach
1. Francois van Wyk
RESERVES:
16. Stephan Coetzee
17. Kelvin de Bruyn
18. James Kilroe
19. Vince Jobo
20. Andries Truter
21. Clearance Khumalo
22. Patrick Howard
Referee: Jaco van Heerden