WP sends in the A-Team for Boxing Day battle
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Western Province has been boosted by the return of a number of key players for their Currie Cup encounter with Griquas at Newlands on Boxing Day.
Wing Sergeal Petersen, No.8 Juarno Augustus and prop Frans Malherbe are all fit again and back in the starting line-up for the home game against the team from Kimberley.
Along with the return of Petersen from injury, centre Dan du Plessis and scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies are also back in the starting backline after featuring off the replacements bench in the win against the Pumas a fortnight ago.
There are also several changes to the forward pack with Augustus and Malherbe joined by flank Johan du Toit, locks John Schickerling and Chris van Zyl and hooker Bongi Mbonambi in the starting pack.
With Siyabonga Ntubeni sidelined due to a quad injury, Chad Solomon is set to earn his 50th Western Province cap off the replacements bench.
Western Province: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), 5 John Schickerling, 4 Chris van Zyl, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements – from: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Ruhan Nel, 23 Tristan Leyds, 24 Ernst van Rhyn, 25 Chris Schreuder, 26 Leolin Zas.
Date: Saturday, December 26
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 16.30 (14.30 GMT)
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Divan Uys
TMO: Joey Klaaste-Salmans
