DHL Western Province U21 have the opportunity to defend their title when they face Fidelity ADT Lions U21 in the SA Rugby U21 Cup Final at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.
There are no changes to the matchday squad for the showpiece match, which kicks off at 12h00 on Saturday in Johannesburg. The match will be televised live on SuperSport.
Having gone unbeaten on their way to the national title last year, DHL Western Province U21 lost just three games out of 11 on their way to the final.
They finished second in the league phase of the competition and produced an impressive performance in the play-off match at City Park last week, picking up an impressive 42-28 win against Vodacom Bulls U21.
Led by the experienced Paul de Villiers, who served as Junior Springbok captain last year, DHL Western Province also count this year’s Junior Springbok captain Zachary Porthen among their ranks.
In addition to this, there are 12 players in the starting XV who represented the senior DHL Western Province side in the Carling Currie Cup this season.
Head Coach Johno van der Walt said that after a long season and plenty of hard work, the players understand that they have an opportunity to do something special in Johannesburg this weekend.
“It is not often you see teams go back-to-back in this competition due to the high turnover in players, so if we can retain our title it will be something to be really proud of.
“We haven’t had things all our own way this season, but that has been a positive as we have seen some incredible growth in the playing group and management.
“We know we are up against an impressive side who have not lost yet, but that will not stop us from giving it all we have to lift that trophy again,” he said.
DHL WP U21: 15 JC Mars, 14 Joel Leotlela, 13 Joshua Boulle, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Jared Africa, 10 Kyle Smith, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Divan Fuller, 6 Paul de Villiers (captain), 5 Carel van der Merwe, 4 Andre Goedhals, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Joshua Eras, 1 Mhleli Khuzwayo.
Replacements: 16 Armand Combrinck, 17 Ethan Wasserfall, 18 Herman Lubbe, 19 Patric Kitete, 20 Xola Nyali, 21 Max du Pisani, 22 Asad Moos, 23 Gino Cupido.
