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Cape Town - Western Province coach Allister Coetzee has released a 26-man squad ahead of their Currie Cup opener against the Blue Bulls Newlands on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 17:05.
Rising Under-21 stars Stephan Coetzee (hooker), Gerbrandt Grobler (lock), Tim Swiel (flyhalf), Pat Howard (centre) and Cheslin Kolbe (fullback) are all in the selection mix, along with the uncapped Maties duo of Alistair Vermaak (prop) and Ryan Nell (utility back).
Springboks Pat Cilliers (prop) and Gio Aplon (wing/fullback) are also in the frame to face the Bulls, with WP being captained by flanker Deon Fourie.
“The door is by no means closed on anyone else who has been training here these past few weeks, but I needed to focus on a core group of players with the eye on the first game," Coetzee told the WP Rugby website.
“We have Pat and Gio available to us this week, but are without the rest of our Springboks who have been selected in the Rugby Championship squad.
“I am happy with our preparations and we’re looking forward to Saturday’s match against the Bulls. North-South derbies are always big games and we’re not expecting anything different come this weekend. We’re excited to be starting our campaign at home and we’re hoping to have a big crowd at Newlands in our opening match of the 2013 Currie Cup season.”
The WP coach will announce his match-day 22 on Wednesday.
WP squad:
Forwards (13):
Scarra Ntubeni
Stephan Coetzee
Steven Kitshoff
Alistair Vermaak
Pat Cilliers
Brok Harris
Gerbrandt Grobler
De Kock Steenkamp
Ruan Kitshoff
Deon Fourie (captain)
Michael Rhodes
Rynhardt Elstadt
Nizaam Carr
Backs (13):
Louis Schreuder
Nic Groom
Gary van Aswegen
Tim Swiel
Kurt Coleman
Berton Klaasen
Damian de Allende
Pat Howard
Ryan Nell
Gerhard van den Heever
Ederies Arendse
Cheslin Kolbe
Gio Aplon
Kick-off is at 17:05.
Rising Under-21 stars Stephan Coetzee (hooker), Gerbrandt Grobler (lock), Tim Swiel (flyhalf), Pat Howard (centre) and Cheslin Kolbe (fullback) are all in the selection mix, along with the uncapped Maties duo of Alistair Vermaak (prop) and Ryan Nell (utility back).
Springboks Pat Cilliers (prop) and Gio Aplon (wing/fullback) are also in the frame to face the Bulls, with WP being captained by flanker Deon Fourie.
“The door is by no means closed on anyone else who has been training here these past few weeks, but I needed to focus on a core group of players with the eye on the first game," Coetzee told the WP Rugby website.
“We have Pat and Gio available to us this week, but are without the rest of our Springboks who have been selected in the Rugby Championship squad.
“I am happy with our preparations and we’re looking forward to Saturday’s match against the Bulls. North-South derbies are always big games and we’re not expecting anything different come this weekend. We’re excited to be starting our campaign at home and we’re hoping to have a big crowd at Newlands in our opening match of the 2013 Currie Cup season.”
The WP coach will announce his match-day 22 on Wednesday.
WP squad:
Forwards (13):
Scarra Ntubeni
Stephan Coetzee
Steven Kitshoff
Alistair Vermaak
Pat Cilliers
Brok Harris
Gerbrandt Grobler
De Kock Steenkamp
Ruan Kitshoff
Deon Fourie (captain)
Michael Rhodes
Rynhardt Elstadt
Nizaam Carr
Backs (13):
Louis Schreuder
Nic Groom
Gary van Aswegen
Tim Swiel
Kurt Coleman
Berton Klaasen
Damian de Allende
Pat Howard
Ryan Nell
Gerhard van den Heever
Ederies Arendse
Cheslin Kolbe
Gio Aplon
