Fit-again DHL Western Province centre Pat Howard will start in the No.13 jersey for the table-topping WP Under-21 team when they host the FS Cheetahs U21s at Stellenbosch’s Markötter Fields on Saturday (15h30).
Howard played two matches for the WP senior team in the 2013 Absa Currie Cup tournament, against the Blue Bulls and FS Cheetahs, before dropping out with a hamstring injury.
His return to fitness, which sees Kobus van Wyk shift in to inside centre and Kyle Lombard drop to the bench, is a big boost for the WP Under-21s who will, this week, have a new captain in the shape of No.8 Ray Smid.
“Unfortunately, our regular captain Josh Katzen is out with an injury (this week), but I have full confidence in Rayn as a skipper and we're also very blessed to be able to call upon Eital Bredenkamp and Justin Benn in the No.6 jersey as replacements for Josh,” WP Under-21 coach John Dobson told www.wprugby.com.
“The Markötter Fields are quite heavy and we're expecting even more rain before and during the match, so having a powerful midfield combination of Kobus and Pat is a big boost for us,” added Dobson.
“Kyle Lombard did very well for us in Pat's absence, but it's great to have Pat – a very direct runner – back in the mix and (now) we're also fortunate to be able to call upon someone of Kyle's ability from the bench.”
Lombard will warm the bench with scrumhalf Godlen Masimla this week, with Jean Nel starting at No.9, and Dobson explained: “Godlen, our No.1 scrumhalf, has been overplayed this season – he needs a break and Jean Nel deserves, and also needs, a start.
“At the same time, with Kyle and Johnny Kotze on the bench, and covering centre, Godlen will double up as a wing replacement, so we're lucky to have someone like him amongst the replacements.”
Currie Cup squad member Tim Swiel will start in the No.10 jersey, with Dillyn Leyds joining captain Katzen on the sidelines this week.
On Swiel's selection, Dobson revealed: “We're thankful to the senior team for letting Tim – our regular flyhalf this season – (also) start for us on Saturday.
“However, should Tim end up playing a full game on Friday night (against the Lions), or even pick up an injury, we're fortunate to have Janco Gunter waiting in the wings for us. Janco is our official 'player 23' for this week and he is up to speed should he have to come in at flyhalf at the 11th hour.”
WP finished the first half of the 2013 Provincial Under-21 season in first place on the log, with a four-point lead over the second-placed Blue Bulls Under-21. They tasted victory in five of their six first-round matches – losing just once, away to the Free State Cheetahs, the team they will face this weekend.
Said Dobson: “Free State beat us last time out (in Bloemfontein) when we had Currie Cup players like Gerbrandt Grobler and Cheslin Kolbe in our team.
“We're expecting a very difficult game, in tough conditions, but we want to build on the first half of our season and keep up our four-point lead on the log. We've worked very hard to be where we are, and we want to build on that – starting this weekend.”
The DHL Western Province Under-21 team to take on the FS Cheetahs is as follows:
15. Craig Barry
14. JP Lewis
13. Pat Howard
12. Kobus van Wyk
11. Devon Williams
10. Tim Swiel
9. Jean Nel
8. Rayn Smid (captain)
7. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
6. Eital Bredenkamp
5. Jean Kleyn
4. Jurie van Vuuren
3. Oliver Kebble
2. Stephan
Coetzee
1. Sti Sithole
Replacements:
16. Michael Willemse
17. Entienne Swanepoel
18. Cobus Nel
19. Justin Benn
20. Godlen Masimla
21. Kyle Lombard
22. John-Ben Kotze
Referee: Ben Crouse