Taute's first start at centre
Comments
0
Jaco Taute will make his first Currie Cup start in Western Province colours, after being named at inside centre for Saturday's meeting with the Blue Bulls in Pretoria.
Springbok Taute replaces the injured Michael van der Spuy (hamstring) in the No.12 shirt in the only change to the WP starting line-up from last weekend's 27-14 win over the Golden Lions.
Former SA Under-20 star Pat Howard, a Round One try-scorer against the EP Kings, replaces Taute on the bench – meaning just two changes overall to the Province 22 from last week.
Taute scored a valuable try off the bench last week after replacing Van der Spuy in the 59th minute and his experience will be a major boon for the unbeaten and table-topping Western Province outfit ahead of Saturday's clash at Loftus Versfeld.
"This is a great opportunity for Jaco. I've said before that his size and skill-set could make him into the ideal centre and he now has an opportunity to show us just that," WP coach Allister Coetzee said.
"Jaco is still very young [at 23 years of age] but he's already very experienced having played Test and Super Rugby at centre before.
"But his skill and strength aside, his communication is his biggest attribute and I look forward to seeing him operate in the No.12 jersey.
"Your depth is tested quite severely during the Currie Cup," added Coetzee, "so having versatile players like Jaco [in our squad] is a good thing – especially ahead of a big game like Saturday."
The Bulls picked up a welcome 30-25 win over the EP Kings last weekend and will be determined to make it back-to-back victories in front of their home support as they also look to avenge their Round Two defeat to WP in Cape Town two weeks ago.
Western Province: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Ruan Botha, 19 Rynhardt Elstadt, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Pat Howard.
Date: Saturday, August 30
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Cobus Wessels
TMO: Willie Vos
ADVERTISEMENT
