Brannas to lead star-studded Province side
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Deon Fourie will captain Western Province in his 100th match as the team’s Currie Cup campaign draws to a close against Boland Cavaliers at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
The experienced Fourie, who brought up his Stormers century in the inaugural United Rugby Championship Grand Final in 2022, leads a star-studded team for the Cape derby.
Having made his Western Province debut back in 2006, Fourie went on to lift the coveted Currie Cup trophy as captain in 2012 and on Saturday becomes only one of two players, alongside current Forwards Coach Brok Harris, to play 100 games for both Western Province and the Stormers.
He starts at openside flank in a team featuring 13 changes to the starting XV, with fullback Luke Burger and tighthead prop Zachary Porthen the only two retaining their places.
Porthen is joined by hooker JJ Kotze and Vernon Matongo in the front row, with Ruben van Heerden and JD Schickerling linking up in the second row.
Fourie will have fellow Springbok Evan Roos alongside him in the loose trio, with Marcel Theunissen at blindside flank.
Stefan Ungerer and Jean-Luc du Plessis form the halfback pairing, with Jonathan Roche and Ruhan Nel in midfield.
Burger will have Seabelo Senatla and Leolin Zas at the back with him.
There will also be first appearances of the season from prop Vernon Matongo, lock Adre Smith, scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage and utility back Wandisile Simelane from the replacements bench.
Head Coach Labeeb Levy said that the focus this week has been on ending the campaign on a high.
“All of the players coming in have been hard at work in pre-season and training alongside our squad for some time.
“We are determined to end the season with a quality performance in front of our fans against an impressive Boland Cavaliers side,” he said.
Western Province: 15 Luke Burger, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Cabous Eloff, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Connor Evans, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Jurie Matthee, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Date: Saturday, September 6
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Green Point
Kick-off: 14.45 (12.45 GMT)
Referee: Morne Ferreira
Assistant referees: Sean Muller, Zoe Naude
TMO: Egon Seconds
