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Cape Town - Western Province have gained three players with Super Rugby experience for their SuperSport Rugby Challenge encounter with Eastern Province at Newlands on Saturday.
Centre EW Viljoen, scrumhalf Jano Vermaak and prop Michael Kumbirai all come into the starting line-up for the Cape derby, which kicks off at 12:15 on Saturday as a curtain raiser to the Super Rugby match between the Stormers and the Highlanders at Newlands.
Viljoen is joined in the backline by the experienced Vermaak who returns from injury to take the place of the injured Godlen Masimla, while Nico Leonard is on the right wing.
Kumbirai will pack down alongside hooker Schalk Erasmus and prop Kwenzo Blose in an all-new front row, while Ben-Jason Dixon comes in at lock and Chris Massyn is at openside flank in the only other changes up front.
Western Province Head Coach Jerome Paarwater said that his team want to keep building as they target their fifth straight win in the SuperSport Rugby Challenge.
"It is nice to have some experienced players in the mix this week, but we cannot take anything for granted.
"It is another fantastic opportunity for us to play at DHL Newlands and we want to make the most of it on Saturday," he said.
Teams
Western Province
15 Craig Barry (captain), 14 Nico Leonard, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Lyle Hendricks, 11 Sihle Njezula, 10 Abner van Reenen, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Marno Redelinghuys, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Chris Massyn, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Ben-Jason Dixon, 3 Michael Kumbirai, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Kwenzo Blose.
Substitutes: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 18 Curtly Thomas, 19 Brandon Valentyn, 20 Deon Carstens, 21 David Brits, 22 Andre Manual.
Easter Province
TBA
