Gary van Aswegen will wear the No.10 jersey for DHL Western Province in their must-win Vodacom Cup, Round Seven clash against the SWD Eagles at Outeniqua Park in George on Friday night (kick-off 19h00).
DHL WP are chasing a victory to secure a top-two finish in the South Section of the Vodacom Cup, and with it a home quarterfinal the following weekend, so Van Aswegen’s return – after a week out and last weekend’s bye – could not have come at a better time.
Van Aswegen will take over the Province flyhalf duties from Kurt Coleman – who has moved up to the DHL Stormers team this week – with young star Robert du Preez moving to fullback and Michael van der Spuy lining up at inside centre.
Van der Spuy will partner young gun Huw Jones in an attack-minded midfield, with Chevandre van Schoor and JP Lewis teaming up with Du Preez in a new-look back three.
“We didn’t have out-and-out fullback cover as Devon Williams has been our back-up No.15, so we’re looking at Robert du Preez there,” explained DHL WP coach John Dobson.
“Robert is fast enough and with all his great flyhalf attributes, and the way we play in interchanging these two as we always do, it will be no problem. Rob has impressed since joining the squad and this will help develop him as he gets more time on the field.”
Up front, Stephan Coetzee has returned to the DHL Stormers set-up after getting some much-needed game time during the Super Rugby bye week two weeks ago, which means that fit-again hooker Michael Willemse will start in the No.2 jersey against the Eagles.
Willemse will have Sti Sithole on his left – in the absence of regular loosehead prop Alistair Vermaak (who is ill) – and Entienne Swanepoel on his right, with the fit-again Justin Ackerman taking his place on the bench for the first time in 2014.
Another player making his return from a long-term injury this week is hard-working flanker Josh Katzen, last year’s DHL WP Under-21 captain and an Absa Currie Cup representative. Katzen will take his place on the bench, alongside fit-again centre Kyle Lombard and debutant wing Lihleli Xoli, a member of the victorious UCT Varsity Cup outfit.
Dobson told www.wprugby.com: “It’s a mixed bag in terms of our team this week. It’s a pity that Tiger Bax (hamstring) and Ali Vermaak (ill) are missing out as they have been absolute stalwarts this season.
“But, then again, it’s great to welcome back Mike van der Spuy, Tazz Fuzani and Sikhumbuzo Nothse – as well as Justin Ackermann and Josh Kazten (both of whom are back from long-term injuries).
“Lihleli Xoli is a player we have had our eye on for a while now. We are excited by him. I am also pleased that Chevandre van Schoor, over his ankle injury and in the absence of Devon Williams, will make his first senior start.
“Chevandre is a great story from Young Gardens in Paarl and is a kid who takes three taxis and a train just to get to (the HPC in) Bellville. The President made a commitment last year that WP would see Chevandre right and it’s great that we have delivered on this.”
The winner of Friday night’s South Section match – between the second-placed DHL Western Province (23 points) and third-placed SWD Eagles (21 points) – will earn hosting rights in next weekend’s quarterfinal encounters. (See all the permutations HERE.)
The Cell C Sharks XV (currently first on the log on 27 points) host the EP Kings in Durban on Friday afternoon. Two log points from this match will be enough for the KwaZulu-Natalians to secure first place on the South Section log, but DHL WP will still be determined to finish their league campaign with a victory and, in the process, secure that home play-off spot.
“This is a good SWD team – their best in a while – and they are where they are just behind us on the log for good reason,” said Dobson, whose team has lost just once in 2014.
“I think Outeniqua Park on a Friday night is going to be tricky for any team but I think we are well prepared and hungry. It’s great that we have alreay secured a play-off but we must make sure it’s at DHL Newlands next week – that’s our aim this week.
“We seem to be coming together as a team in terms of depth in the squad,” added the DHL WP Vodacom Cup coach.
“We have used a lot of players over the season with all the injuries and disruptions, and I hope now we can settle around what we have as we go into the play-offs. We have also enjoyed the work and the input of Tom Dawson-Squibb with his mental and performance sessions these past two weeks.”
The DHL Western Province team for Friday (v SWD) is as follows:
15. Robert du Preez
14. JP Lewis
13. Huw Jones
12. Michael van der Spuy
11. Chevandre van Schoor
10. Gary van Aswegen
9. Jean Nel
8. Carel du Preez
7. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
6. Rohan Kitshoff (captain)
5. Jan de Klerk
4. Tazz Fuzani
3. Entienne Swanepoel
2. Michael Willemse
1. Sti Sithole
Replacements:
16. Eital Bredenkamp
17. Justin Ackerman
18. Jan Uys
19. Josh Katzen
20. Freddie Muller
21. Kyle Lombard
22. Lihleli Xoli
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
