Jean leads Bok-laden WP
Western Province coach Allister Coetzee wasted no time in drafting in all his World Cup Springboks for the Currie Cup encounter with the Pumas at Newlands on Saturday.
All six Boks will feature in the matchday 22, with Jean de Villiers captaining the team from centre.
The Province team sports four Bok players in the backline – with Gio Aplon at fullback, Juan de Jongh and De Villiers lining up at centre, as well as Bryan Habana starting on the wing.
On the bench there are two more Boks, with flank Schalk Burger and centre Jaque Fourie both likely to feature at some stage of the match.
“We are at the business-end of the competition,” Coetzee said, adding: “After talking to, and assessing, the returning players it was an easy decision to play them.
“The players were all excited about playing for Province and to a man, without hesitation, put their hands up to play.
“The youngsters have done exceptionally well this season and it’s sad that they have to make place now for the returning Boks.
“However, it is the right thing in the context of the season and all understand that this is a team sport and it’s about WP and not individuals.
“Every player has played a part this season and any results we achieve will be a result for all.”
Western Province: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 JJ Engelbrecht, 13 Juan De Jongh, 12 Jean De Villiers (captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nick Köster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Adriaan Fondse, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 JC Kritzinger.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Tertius Daniller, 19 Schalk Burger, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Jaque Fourie, 22 Conrad Jantjes.
Date: Saturday, October 15
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Lesego Legoete
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Johann Meuwesen
