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Xaba to skipper DHL WP U21 at Loftus

PUBLISHED: August 23, 2018


Flank Nama Xaba will captain DHL Western Province U21 in their first game of the season against Vodacom Blue Bulls U21 at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

Head Coach Jerome Paarwater’s team will get their national U21 title defence underway in Pretoria, in a match that kicks off at 15h00 on Friday.

The versatile Joshua Vermeulen is at fullback, with Nico Leonard and Markus Labuschagne on the wings and Cornel Smit and Tristan Leyds among the replacements.

The Junior Springbok pair of David Brits and Lyle Hendricks are in midfield, while Jondre Williams and Jordan Chait make up the halfback pairing.

Xaba is joined by Springbok Sevens star Zain Davids and Ben-Jason Dixon in an exciting loose trio, with David Meihuizen and Jordan Sesink-Clee in the second row.

Up front hooker Schalk Erasmus starts alongside props Lee-Marvin Mazibuko and Kwenzo Blose, with Daniel Jooste, Wikus Groenewald and Leon Lyons on the replacements bench.

Paarwater said that his side know that they face a tough game in Pretoria and have embraced the challenge.

“Going up to Loftus for our first game of the season, we know that we have to be on the mark from the start.

“We have prepared well and I am excited to see what this group of players is capable of achieving together,” he said.

DHL Western Province U21: 15 Joshua Vermeulen, 14 Nico Leonard, 13 David Brits, 12 Lyle Hendricks, 11 Markus Labuschagne, 10 Jordan Chait, 9 Jondre Williams, 8 Zain Davids, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Jordan Sesink Clee, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Kwenzo Blose.
Replacements: 16 Daniel Jooste, 17 Wikus Groenewald, 18 Leon Lyons, 19 Pieter Swanepoel, 20 Labib Kannemeyer, 21 Cornel Smit, 22 Tristan Leyds.