Oli Kebble has withdrawn from the DHL Western Province team for today’s pre-season friendly against the Eastern Province Kings, with Ali Vermaak coming in at loosehead prop.
Kebble has a cold and will thus not be able to take his place in the side, with Vermaak taking over the No.1 shirt and Sti Sithole coming on to the bench.
Having fielded a largely untried DHL WP XV selection against the Pumas last weekend, new Province coach John Dobson has recalled most of his first-choice players for today’s second – and final – pre-season clash ahead of the 2015 Absa Currie Cup tournament.
Squad captain Juan de Jongh will team up with national skipper Jean de Villiers in the DHL WP midfield, with powerhouse flanker Rynhardt Elstadt named at No.6 upon his return from a leg injury which saw him miss most of the 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby season.
Loose forward Sikhumbuzo Notshe and wing Kobus van Wyk are the only players retained in the starting line-up from last weekend.
The revised DHL WP XV for Saturday (v EP Kings, friendly) is as follows:
15. Cheslin Kolbe
14. Kobus van Wyk
13. Juan de Jongh (captain)
12. Jean de Villiers
11. Seabelo Senatla
10. Demetri Catrakilis
9. Nic Groom
8. Nizaam Carr
7. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
6. Rynhardt Elstadt
5. Ruan Botha
4. Jean Kleyn
3. Entienne Swanepoel
2. Bongi Mbonambi
1. Ali Vermaak
Replacements (from):
16. Chad Solomon
17. Sti Sithole
18. Wilco Louw
19. Chris van Zyl
20. Justin Benn
21. Rayn Smid
22. Jano Vermaak
23. Kurt Coleman
24. Jaco Taute
25. Huw Jones
26. Godlen Masimla
27. EW Viljoen
28. Jan de Klerk
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Local