Van Zyl leads WP at Ellis Park

Cape Town - Captain Chris van Zyl will make his first start for Western Province this season against Golden Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Having played off the bench in the last game against the Pumas, lock Van Zyl takes over the captaincy from Dillyn Leyds for the Currie Cup clash in Johannesburg which kicks off at 15:00 on Saturday.

Van Zyl will partner JD Schickerling in the second row, with Ernst van Rhyn shifting to blindside flank and Kobus van Dyk at openside. Salmaan Moerat and Chris Massyn will provide cover on the bench.

There is one change to the front row as Michael Kumbirai comes back into the starting line-up at tighthead and Carlu Sadie makes his first appearance of the season among the replacements.

The only change to the backline sees Dan Kriel back at inside centre, with scrumhalf Paul de Wet getting an opportunity on the bench.

Western Province coach John Dobson said that it will take an 80-minute performance to challenge the Golden Lions at their home ground.

“We know that we will have to be accurate in all areas and sustain our effort until the final whistle if we are to come away with a win this weekend,” Dobson said.

“Our preparations have gone well following our bye last week, but the key will be putting those plans into action on Saturday.”

Teams:

Golden Lions

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Len Massyn, 6 James Venter, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Sti Sithole

Substitutes: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Johannes Jonker, 18 Reinhard Nothnagel, 19 Driaan Bester, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Gianni Lombard, 22 Wandisile Simelane

Western Province

15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 SP Marais, 10 Josh Stander, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Kobus van Dyk, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Chris van Zyl (captain), 3 Michael Kumbirai, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Ali Vermaak

Substitutes: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Chris Massyn, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Dan du Plessis