Cape Town - Western Province coach Allister Coetzee has been forced to make a late change at hooker ahead of their Currie Cup clash against the Sharks at Newlands on Saturday (19:10 kick-off).
Tiaan Liebenberg has been ruled out with a back spasm, meaning Scarra Ntubeni will start in the No 2 jersey, with young Michael Willemse warming the bench.
Ntubeni will make his fourth start of the season, whilst Willemse, a member of the SA Under-20 team earlier this year, will make his Currie Cup debut for WP after making four appearances during the 2013 Vodacom Cup.
“Tiaan’s back worsened a bit overnight, so we didn’t want to risk him (tomorrow),” Coetzee told the WP Rugby website on Friday.
“Scarra will slot in with ease, having started all but one game for us this season, whilst it’s an exciting opportunity for a younger player like Michael, who has come through the ranks at Vodacom Cup and Under-21 level.”
Teams:
Western Province
15 Gio Aplon, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Louis Schreuder 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16 Michael Willemse, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Gerbrandt Grobler, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Gary van Aswegen, 22 Michael van der Spuy
Sharks
15. SP Marais, 14. Sizo Maseko, 13. Louis Ludik, 12. Tim Whitehead, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Butch James, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Jacques Botes (captain), 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Keegan Daniel, 5. Marco Wentzel, 4. Peet Marais, 3. Rayno Gerber, 2. Craig Burden, 1. Danie Mienie
Substitutes: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Wiehahn Herbst, 18. Edwin Hewitt, 19. Justin Downey, 20. Charl McLeod, 21. Fred Zeilinga, 22. Jaco van Tonder
Tiaan Liebenberg has been ruled out with a back spasm, meaning Scarra Ntubeni will start in the No 2 jersey, with young Michael Willemse warming the bench.
Ntubeni will make his fourth start of the season, whilst Willemse, a member of the SA Under-20 team earlier this year, will make his Currie Cup debut for WP after making four appearances during the 2013 Vodacom Cup.
“Tiaan’s back worsened a bit overnight, so we didn’t want to risk him (tomorrow),” Coetzee told the WP Rugby website on Friday.
“Scarra will slot in with ease, having started all but one game for us this season, whilst it’s an exciting opportunity for a younger player like Michael, who has come through the ranks at Vodacom Cup and Under-21 level.”
Teams:
Western Province
15 Gio Aplon, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Louis Schreuder 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16 Michael Willemse, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Gerbrandt Grobler, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Gary van Aswegen, 22 Michael van der Spuy
Sharks
15. SP Marais, 14. Sizo Maseko, 13. Louis Ludik, 12. Tim Whitehead, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Butch James, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Jacques Botes (captain), 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Keegan Daniel, 5. Marco Wentzel, 4. Peet Marais, 3. Rayno Gerber, 2. Craig Burden, 1. Danie Mienie
Substitutes: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Wiehahn Herbst, 18. Edwin Hewitt, 19. Justin Downey, 20. Charl McLeod, 21. Fred Zeilinga, 22. Jaco van Tonder