DHL Western Province coach Allister Coetzee has announced a team showing just two changes for Friday’s Absa Currie Cup clash against the in-form MTN Golden Lions in Johannesburg (19h10).
Flyhalves Gary van Aswegen and Demetri Catrakilis – both of whom are battling shoulder injuries – remain sidelined, but in the only change to the backline, Nic Groom replaces Louis Schreuder and will make his first start of the season at scrumhalf.
“Louis has been playing consistently well, and he's had a few starting opportunities of late, but we thought it was the right thing to give Nic a start,” explained Coetzee.
“I thought Nic did well against Griquas when he came on last week. Louis has been very good, but Nic brings something different (for us).
“In terms of the flyhalves,” added the WP coach, “we didn't want to risk Gary and Demetri. But, at the same time, Kurt did well against Griquas and kicked his goals, (and) he deserves another shot.”
Up front, Springbok Tiaan Liebenberg swaps with Scarra Ntubeni at hooker, the former also set to make his first run-on appearance in 2013.
Coetzee said: “We have a plan for Tiaan and Scarra (for the Lions match), we think it's the right decision for this week to start with Tiaan and Scarra, who has been playing well, can add a lot from the bench.”
Ntubeni, like Schreuder, reverts to the bench where he will be joined by utility back Michael van der Spuy. Van der Spuy made his Currie Cup debut back in 2011 and has played a total of 19 matches for DHL Western Province.
DHL WP are the only unbeaten team in the 2013 Absa Currie Cup, having drawn with the Blue Bulls and beating the Cheetahs (at home) and Griquas (away) over the past two weeks, and they currently top the tournament standings.
“Griquas were effective when they had the ball and put us under pressure (last week), but we're expecting an even bigger challenge against the Lions in Johannesburg.
“I thought the Lions were awesome against the Blue Bulls last week, you don't often go to Loftus and put 60 past the Bulls, but they played at a high tempo and will be a threat with their ball-in-hand approach,” concluded Coetzee.
The DHL Western Province team to take on the Lions is as follows:
15. Gio Aplon
14. Gerhard van den Heever
13. Juan de Jongh
12. Damian de Allende
11. Cheslin Kolbe
10. Kurt Coleman
9. Nic Groom
8. Nizaam Carr
7. Rynhardt Elstadt
6. Deon Fourie (captain)
5. De Kock Steenkamp
4. Michael Rhodes
3. Pat Cilliers
2. Tiaan Liebenberg
1. Steven Kitshoff
Reserves:
16. Scarra Ntubeni
17. Brok Harris
18. Gerbrandt Grobler
19. Rohan Kitshoff
20. Louis Schreuder
21. Tim Swiel
22. Michael van der Spuy
Referee: Jaco Peyper