Willemse gets No.10 jersey for crucial Bloem clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Junior Springbok centre Rikus Pretorius will make his Western Province debut in the final league round Currie Cup encounter with the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The 20-year-old will start at inside centre in a team that also sees Springboks Dillyn Leyds, Damian Willemse, Wilco Louw and Scarra Ntubeni come into the starting line-up.
Leyds is at fullback, with SP Marais shifting to the left wing, while Pretorius will link up with Ruhan Nel in midfield.
Willemse starts at flyhalf after coming off the replacements bench on his return from injury last week, with Jean-Luc du Plessis providing cover among the replacements.
The only changes to the forward pack come in the front row, where Louw and Ntubeni take their places alongside Corne Fourie.
Hooker Chad Solomon is set to earn his 50th Western Province cap from the replacements bench, with loose forward Juarno Augustus also in the matchday 23 on his return from injury.
Currently in fifth place on the standings, Western Province can guarantee a semifinal place with a bonus-point win in Bloemfontein this weekend.
Here is the DHL WP team that will take on Toyota Free State Cheetahs in a crucial final league round Currie Cup encounter in Bloemfontein on Saturday. #wpjoulekkerding pic.twitter.com/f7kBYafQjg
— WP RUGBY (@WP_RUGBY) August 21, 2019
Western Province: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 SP Marais, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Justin Phillips, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 JD Schickerling, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Corne Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Nama Xaba, 20 Juarno Augustus, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Seabelo Senatla.
Date: Saturday, August 24
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 17.15 (15.15 GMT)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Ruhan Meiring, Mpho Matsaung
TMO: JJ Wagner
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