John Dobson, the DHL Western Province Vodacom Cup coach, has cast his selection net wide for Saturday’s first warm-up match of the year against SK Walmers.
Dobson’s charges will take to the field against Community Cup side, SK Walmers, in a valuable pre-season hit-out for both sides at UCT’s Groote Schuur Fields. (Kick-off is at 10h00.)
The majority of this WP team is made up of the top club players in the Western Province region, whilst all eyes will be on young loose forward sensation Sikhumbuzo ‘Skura’ Notshe, who has been training with the DHL Stormers squad this year.
“I think this is a fantastic opportunity to show club players a route into a professional rugby environment,” said Dobson, who guided DHL WP to the Vodacom Cup title in 2012.
“Through Jerome Paarwater, he has identified some club players with outstanding potential and they have worked helluva hard in the off-season. Unfortunately, some could not make it due to work commitments, but those that could have shown great commitment and this game is their first major step.
“Rome won’t get built in a day but this programme, whereby these players have worked so hard with conditioning and technical staff, is something that the President and the Union feel very strongly about and we are thrilled we have managed to raise it a few levels this year.
“Each player will be given decent, detailed, honest feedback as they are all works in progress with futures,” concluded Dobson.
The DHL Western Province Vodacom Cup team to take on SK Walmers is as follows:
15. Chevandre van Schoor
14. Allister Kettledas
13. Ruan Mostert
12. Stefan de Villiers
11. Elmo Thomas
10. Chris Smith
9. Gerhard Jordaan
8. Carel du Preez
7. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
6. Phillip Hopley
5. Ryan Olivier
4. Lee Clark
3. Christo van Wyk
2. Shameeg Allen
1. Wesley Chetty
RESERVES:
16. Johan Nel
17. Chris Heiberg
18. Ashley Wells
19. AN Other
20. Johannes Conradie
21. Edwin Sass
22. Craig Pheiffer
Kick-off: 10h00