Dobson tweaks WP team for Bloem trip
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Western Province head coach John Dobson has named his team to face the Cheetahs on Wednesday.
Dobson has made just one change to the tight five that fronted up for the Stormers on Saturday against the British & Irish Lions.
Young Andre-Hugo Venter starts at hooker with JJ Kotze dropping to the bench.
Marcel Theunissen is brought into the starting XV to join Evan Roos and Nama Xaba in the loose trio. Both Roos and Xaba were impressive on the weekend and will be ready to once again put their bodies on the line as Western Province look to keep pace in the competition following a number of matches that have been cancelled.
Johan du Toit will be able to provide fresh impetus from the bench later in the contest.
In the backline, centre Juan de Jongh will start alongside Cornel Smit in the midfield. De Jongh’s experience will be vital against the physical Cheetahs.
Tristan Leyds makes a return to the run-on side on the wing with Leolin Zas, another who played on Saturday, on the bench.
Junior Springbok Sacha Mngomezulu is in line for his debut after being named among the replacements.
WP’s match in Bloemfontein will be followed by a bus trip to Nelspruit to play the Pumas on Sunday.
Western Province: 15 Sergeal Petersen, 14 Tristan Leyds, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Leon Lyons.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Simon Miller, 20 Johan du Toit, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Sacha Mngomezulu, 23 Leolin Zas.
Date: Wednesday, July 21
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 16.45 (14.45 GMT)
Referee: Morné Ferreira
Assistant referees: Local appointments
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen
