No.6 flank Josh Katzen is back from senior Absa Currie Cup duty and will lead the DHL Western Province Under-21 team into battle in their final league match of the 2013 Provincial U21 season.
The in-form, table-topping Province Under-21s will face up to the Sharks in Durban on Saturday (kick-off 16h45), and coach John Dobson has made seven changes to the line-up that thrashed the Golden Lions 39-5 in Cape Town last weekend.
The return of Katzen, the regular U21 captain this season, means no place in the matchday 22 for the impressive Justin Benn – and Eital Bredenkamp – with Dobson referring to the “freakish” depth at loose forward this season.
“It's great to welcome back our skipper in Josh Katzen – that's fantastic going into the play-offs,” Dobson told www.wprugby.com.
“Our loose forward depth is freakish and a constant headache for us every week – as we have had to leave out class players. Justin Benn, for example, was outstanding in the past four weeks while Josh was away. Last week he hit 35 rucks! So it's tough on him… it's tough for us as coaches too, but we're fortunate to have that depth.”
Dobson has decided to rest a few of his frontline players ahead of the weekend, due to medical advice, whilst backs JP Lewis, Johnny Kotze and Jean Nel come into the starting line-up and there is a new face on the bench in the shape of Janco Gunter.
Up front, meanwhile, Jean Kleyn and Gerbrandt Grobler will combine at lock, with Ruan Botha on the bench, and Justin Ackerman will start at tighthead prop this week.
“We have rested a couple of frontliners in Dillyn Leyds and Godlen Masimla, but they are medically showing signs of wear and tear and we were advised not to start with them. We always respect our medical staff, especially with a semifinal due to take place next week.
“I am chuffed that Johnny Kotze gets a deserved start (at centre), given Kobus van Wyk's injury, as well as Janco Gunter, who finally gets a spot in the 22. We're very excited about him and fortunate to call upon someone of his ability at this late stage of the season.”
Looking ahead to Saturday, with the DHL WP U21s already assured of a first-place finish on the log this season (with 49 points from 11 games), Dobson admitted: “It may not be a must-win in terms of the log, but we are going out there to play some good rugby and improve ourselves as a team. We will do our best, as usual, to win it.”
The WP U21s have lost just once this season, in the first-round to the FS Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, and their coach added: “We are greatly looking forward to this trip. We always have great games and rousing battles against the Sharks. They have beaten the Bulls twice this year and are a good team who have threats from 1-15.
“I know that the game does not mean anything fur us in terms of the log, but it's about more than that. It's about the working and winning cultures we have as well as the standards we have set ourselves.
“For the Sharks it's not a dead-rubber game – they are playing for a home semifinal and we have to be prepared for that.”
The DHL Western Province Under-21 team to take on the Sharks is as follows:
15. Craig Barry
14. JP Lewis
13. Johnny Kotze
12. Pat Howard
11. Devon Williams
10. Tim Swiel
9. Jean Nel
8. Rayn Smid
7. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
6. Josh Katzen (captain)
5. Gerbrandt Grobler
4. Jean Kleyn
3. Justin Ackerman
2. Michael Willemse
1. Oliver Kebble
Replacements:
16. Stephan Coetzee
17. Entienne Swanepoel
18. Ruan Botha
19. Jurie van Vuuren
20. Godlen Masimla
21. Dillyn Leyds
22. Janco Gunter
Referee: Lesego Legoete