DHL Western Province Under-19 coach Nazeem Adams has made just two injury enforced changes to his team to face the Xerox Golden Lions U19 at City Park on Saturday.

DHL Western Province Under-19 coach Nazeem Adams has made just two injury enforced changes to his team to face the Xerox Golden Lions U19 at City Park on Saturday.

Having joined up with the squad this week after doing duty as Junior Springbok assistant coach at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Manchester, Adams opted for as much continuity as possible from the team that started their campaign with a convincing 50-18 victory against Toyota Free State Cheetahs U19 in Bloemfontein last week.

Whilst the five forwards who represented the Junior Springboks in Manchester were all back in the fold this week, Adams decided to give them a rest and keep faith with the players who helped get the season off to a positive start, with an eye to developing depth.

“We are not going to win this competition with just 15 good players, it was great to see how the guys stepped up last week, and this gives us a great opportunity to build some meaningful depth while giving those players who have just got back from national duty a well-deserved rest,” he explained.

The match kicks off at 14h15 at City Park and serves as a curtain-raiser to the Currie Cup Qualifier between DHL Western Province and the South Western District Eagles at 16h00, with entry R20 at the gate.

The only changes see Ricky Nwagbara come in at loosehead prop for Wikus Groenewald who has been sidelined with a shoulder injury, and in the backline George Lourens moves to flyhalf in place of Jordan Chait who is battling concussion, with Cornel Smit coming into the side at inside centre.

Adams is hopeful that his charges will be able to build on an encouraging start to the season against a dangerous Xerox Golden Lions U19 side.

“It will be a tough game against a quality Golden Lions side, but we are going to focus on what we can control.

“We want to secure good set-piece ball, make a step up in our defence and look to counter-attack from turnover ball which is one of our strengths,” he said.

DHL Western Province U19: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Nico Leonard, 13 David Brits, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Tumi Mogoje, 10 George Lourens, 9 Jondre Williams, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Thomas Meyer, 6 Kuyenzeka Xaba (captain), 5 Jordan Sesink-Clee, 4 Imraan Andrews, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Matt Wiseman, 1 Ricky Nwagbara.
Replacements: 16 Etienne van Dyk, 17 Roux Swart, 18 Justin Theys, 19 Joa Swart, 20 Shaine Orderson, 21 Brandon Salomo, 22 Troy Payne, 23 Ryan Muller.