WP change two for Lions
Western Province coach Allister Coetzee has made two changes for Friday's Currie Cup clash against the Golden Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Nic Groom replaces Louis Schreuder and will make his first start of the season at scrumhalf, with the latter dropping to the bench, whilst up front Springbok Tiaan Liebenberg swaps with Scarra Ntubeni at hooker, the former also set to make his first run-on appearance this season.
Ntubeni, like Schreuder, reverts to the bench where he will be joined by utility back Michael van der Spuy. Van der Spuy made his Currie Cup debut back in 2011 and has played a total of 19 matches for Western Province.
"Louis has been playing consistently well, and he's had a few starting opportunities of late, but we thought it was the right thing to give Nic a start," explained Coetzee.
"I thought Nic did well against Griquas when he came on last week. Louis has been very good, but Nic brings something different (for us)."
Coetzee added: "We have a plan for Tiaan and Scarra (for the Lions match), we think it's the right decision for this week to start with Tiaan and Scarra, who has been playing well, can add a lot from the bench."
Province are the only unbeaten team in the Currie Cup, having drawn with the Blue Bulls and beating the Cheetahs (at home) and Griquas (away) over the past two weeks, and they currently top the tournament standings.
"Griquas were effective when they had the ball and put us under pressure (last week), but we're expecting an even bigger challenge against the Lions in Johannesburg.
"I thought the Lions were awesome against the Blue Bulls last week, you don't often go to Loftus and put 60 past the Bulls, but they played at a high tempo and will be a threat with their ball-in-hand approach," concluded Coetzee.
Western Province: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Gerbrandt Grobler, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Tim Swiel, 22 Michael van der Spuy.
Date: Friday, August 30
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Jaco van Heerden, Sieg van Staden
TMO: Willie Roos
