Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Wing Kobus van Wyk is back in the Western Province line-up for Friday's Absa Currie Cup clash against the Free State Cheetahs at the Free State Rugby Stadium in Bloemfontein (kick-off 19:10).
WP, the defending Currie Cup champions, will be looking to bounce back from last weekend's defeat to the Blue Bulls in Pretoria and Van Wyk's inclusion is one of three changes to the starting line-up this time around.
The hard-running Van Wyk comes in for Dillyn Leyds on the right-wing, scrumhalf Godlen Masimla replaces Nic Groom, who is on Barbarians duty in London, and Alistair Vermaak starts at loosehead prop in place of the injured Oli Kebble.
Kebble's hamstring has not recovered sufficiently from the weekend, whilst exciting talent Masimla will make his first Currie Cup start for WP in the absence of both Groom and Jano Vermaak, who injured his finger against the Bulls.
Fit-again halfback Louis Schreuder is the new scrumhalf replacement and he will be joined on the bench by Currie Cup debutant JP Smith - the new prop replacement - and lock Jan de Klerk, who comes in for the injured Chris van Zyl (knee).
Leyds, one of his team's two try-scorers last weekend, reverts to the bench to make way for Van Wyk, who is back to full fitness, and, like Masimla, deserved of a first start of WP's 2015 campaign, with Huw Jones missing out on the matchday squad.
WP coach John Dobson told the www.wprugby.com website: "Enough has been said about last weekend's defeat. We were not good enough and we all know that. "It's a short turnaround this week, so we have not harped on things too much, preferring, instead, to get to work and put things right.
"The guys have trained well so far and the new faces have brought some new energy too, so we're looking forward to putting things right in Bloemfontein.
"We all know what Kobus van Wyk is capable of with his direct running from the wing, but, as a coaching staff, we're particularly excited about Godlen Masimla's first start at this level. Dawie Snyman and I first spotted him as a raw 20-year-old in 2012 and he has come through the ranks from UWC, our Under-21s and our Vodacom Cup set-up. This is a great opportunity for him to show what he can do."
The Cheetahs, who lost in the rain to WP in Round 2 of the 2015 Currie Cup, bounced back to form last weekend with a bonus point victory over Griquas and Dobson has warned of a tough challenge awaiting his team.
"The Cheetahs will be eyeing up this match as a one to win - they're at home against a team that lost heavily a few days ago and they ran us close in Cape Town two weeks ago," he said.
"At the same time, we know we need to win and win well, but we need to remain controlled and focused on the plan at hand in order to prevent a repeat of last week."
Teams:
Free State Cheetahs
TBA
Western Province
15. Cheslin Kolbe, 14. Kobus van Wyk, 13. Johnny Kotze, 12. Jaco Taute, 11. Seabelo Senatla, 10. Demetri Catrakilis, 9. Godlen Masimla, 8. Nizaam Carr (captain), 7. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6. Rynhardt Elstadt, 5. Ruan Botha, 4. Jean Kleyn, 3. Wilco Louw, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 1. Alistair Vermaak
Substitutes: 16. Scarra Ntubeni, 17. JP Smith, 18. Jan de Klerk, 19. Chris Cloete, 20. Louis Schreuder, 21. Kurt Coleman, 22. Dillyn Leyds
