Cape Town - Scrumhalf Nic Groom will captain Western Province in Saturday's Currie Cup clash against the Sharks in Durban (17:05 kick-off).
Groom takes over from injured No 8 Nizaam Carr (hamstring), with Sikhumbuzo Notshe returning from injury to start at No 8 in one of three changes to the starting line-up from last weekend’s confidence-boosting 33-15 win over Griquas at Newlands.
The other changes to the WP starting XV see Dillyn Leyds start on the right wing, whilst exciting talent Huw Jones will make his first start in the competition in place of Jaco Taute at inside centre.
Kobus van Wyk drops down to the bench - in a swap with Leyds - with the fit-again pairing of prop Oli Kebble and scrumhalf Jano Vermaak joining the bench this week in place of JP Smith and Godlen Masimla, respectively.
Teams:
Sharks
15. Odwa Ndungane, 14. Wandile Mjekevu, 13. Paul Jordaan, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. S'bura Sithole, 10. Joe Pietersen, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Philip van der Walt, 7. Jean-Luc du Preez, 6. Francois Kleinhans, 5. Marco Wentzel (captain), 4. Etienne Oosthuizen, 3. Gerhard Engelbrecht, 2. Monde Hadebe, 1. Thomas du Toit
Substitutes: 16. Franco Marais, 17. Dale Chadwick, 18. Dave McDuling, 19. Christiaan de Bruin, 20. Michael Claassens, 21. Heimar Williams, 22. Garth April
Western Province
15. Cheslin Kolbe, 14. Dillyn Leyds, 13. Johnny Kotze, 12. Huw Jones, 11. Seabelo Senatla, 10. Kurt Coleman, 9. Nic Groom (captain), 8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7. Rynhardt Elstadt, 6. Chris Cloete, 5. Ruan Botha, 4. Jean Kleyn, 3. Wilco Louw, 2. Scarra Ntubeni, 1. Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16. Bongi Mbonambi, 17. Oli Kebble, 18. Chris van Zyl, 19. Jurie van Vuuren, 20. Jano Vermaak, 21. Robert du Preez, 22. Kobus van Wyk