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DHL WP get back to business

PUBLISHED: March 6, 2015


The DHL Western Province Vodacom Cup team will play their second and final pre-season match at DHL Newlands on Saturday, as they gear up for the 2015 season.

DHL WP, the 2012 Vodacom Cup champions, beat Sir Lowrians by 46-3 last Thursday and will take it up a level this week when they host the SWD Eagles at 16h45 – a curtain-raiser to the DHL Stormers v Sharks Super Rugby clash.

Coach John Dobson told www.wprugby.com: “We are really looking forward to this friendly.

“We had a good experience at Sir Lowrians last week in a hard game, but we know this will be very testing. We saw how good the Eagles were earlier this year when the DHL Stormers had to work very hard for their win their in January (in George).

“Our team is just starting to take shape,” he added. “We have had three training sessions now – including a great outing at Pniel Villagers this week – and we continue to make good progress. This is our last friendly before competition and our camp next week in Hermanus.”

Hooker Michael Willemse (pictured) will lead a powerful pack of forwards, headed up by DHL Stormers loosehead prop Oli Kebble who has moved down this week from the senior team for game time.

Loose forward starlet Sikhumbuzo Notshe, with three DHL Stormers caps, will offer plenty from the No.8 position with youngsters Jacques Vermeulen and Luke van der Smit lining up alongside him in a well-balanced back row.

Elsewhere in the team, DHL Stormers squad members Godlen Masimla and Robert du Preez will link up at halfback, with Kyle Lombard and Pat Howard at centre and Sevens stars Mat Turner and Willy Ambaka partnering EW Viljoen in a dangerous back three.

Speaking about the state of his team, and selection for this friendly, Dobson added: “Being a friendly there are some players we are not forcing (to play) who could maybe have played with a nudge, but we have camp next week to get things right and get some players ready.

“To be honest, we cannot wait to play (tomorrow), to go on camp and get into the competition and, once again, have the privilege of representing DHL Western Province.”

DHL WP will open their 2015 Vodacom Cup campaign against Boland in Caledon on Saturday, March 21 (kick-off 16h30). Their first home game is against the Sharks on March 28 at City Park (15h00).

The DHL Western Province team to face SWD (home) is as follows:

15. EW Viljoen
14. Willy Ambaka
13. Pat Howard
12. Kyle Lombard
11. Mat Turner
10. Robert du Preez
9. Godlen Masimla
8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
7. Jacques Vermeulen
6. Luke van der Smit
5. Chris van Zyl
4. Jan de Klerk
3. Deacon Chowles
2. Michael Willemse (captain)
1. Oli Kebble

Replacements:
16. Charlton van Jaarsveld
17. Sti Sithole
18. Entienne Swanepoel
19. SP Ferreira
20. Justin Phillips
21. Ryno Eksteen
22. Grant Hermanus
23. David Ribbans
24. Cornelis van Niekerk
25. Rayn Smid
26. Jarryd Sage