Six players on debut for DHL WP
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There will be six players making their DHL Western Province debut in the Carling Currie Cup clash with the Vodacom Bulls at DHL Stadium on Sunday. |
DHL Western Province begin their Carling Currie Cup campaign with a North-South showdown, which kicks off at 15h00 on Sunday at DHL Stadium. Tickets are available from Ticketpro. |
Loose forward Willie Engelbrecht will captain a team that will see wing Courtnall Skosan, centre Wandisile Simelane, flank CJ Velleman, props Lizo Gqoboka and Vernon Matongo and lock Hendre Stassen all make their first appearance for DHL Western Province. |
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that while there are a few players pulling on the blue and white jersey for the first time, there is still a pleasing amount of experience among the matchday squad. |
"Five of the six players making their debut are experienced players, with just Vernon Matongo having recently graduated from the junior ranks. We also have a player like Labib Kannemeyer back in the team after some excellent form for his club SK Walmers. |
"We are really excited to see what these combinations can do and we are well-aware that we will need to hit the ground running against a strong and well-prepared Vodacom Bulls side. |
"It is fantastic to start our season at DHL Stadium and the players cannot wait to get out there in front of our fans again. |
"There are a number of players who are really hungry to perform, so this will be a great opportunity for them to show our supporters what they can do," he said. |
DHL Western Province: 15 Luke Burger, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Connor Evans, 6 CJ Velleman, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Hendre Stassen, 20 Paul de Villiers, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Labib Kannemeyer, 23 Damian Markus. |