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Tough task for Bok-less WP

Cape Town - Western Province do not seem to be relishing the fact that they have to face a Free State side boosted with returning Springboks.

The Stormers recently outplayed the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein during the Super Rugby competition, but few of those stalwarts will be in action for WP this time round.

The Cheetahs have included Springboks Ashley Johnson, Adriaan Strauss and Coenie Oosthuizen in their starting line-up, while Heinrich Brüssow will start from the bench.

WP didn't have a single player on the 23-man list of Boks SARU released for Currie Cup duty.

And WP coach Allister Coetzee acknowledged it will be a tough task for his young side. “They are a good side and the return of their Boks definitely strengthens them. They have lost their last two and there is no doubt they will be fired up for this one,” Coetzee told the WP rugby website.

WP captain Tiaan Liebenberg also predicted they could be up against it on Saturday.

“The return of their Boks will definitely boost the Cheetahs. Those guys are all quality players and apart from Ashley Johnson they have not played a lot, so they would like to show they deserve a spot in the team.

"They will be firing on Saturday. They have a very good side and always play with heart and soul in Bloemfontein. They are a dangerous side from broken play and can hold onto the ball for 15, 16 phases. We're going to have to protect our possession," said Liebenberg.

Teams:

Free State Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Riaan Smit, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Ryno Benjamin, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Johan Wessels, 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen

Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Marcel van der Merwe, 18 Izak van der Westhuizen, 19 Heinrich Brussow, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Corne Uys, 22 Philip Burger

Western Province:
15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. Danie Poolman, 13. Johann Sadie, 12. Tim Whitehead, 11. JJ Engelbrecht, 10. Demetri Catrakilis, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Nick Koster, 7. Siya Kolisi, 6. Rohan Kitshoff, 5. De Kock Steenkamp, 4. Hilton Lobberts, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg (captain), 1. Wicus Blaauw

Substitutes: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Frans Malherbe, 18. Adriaan Fondse, 19. Pieter Louw, 20. Nic Groom, 21. Berton Klaasen, 22. Marcel Brache
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