WP welcome De Jongh back
Springbok centre Juan de Jongh has been drafted straight back into the Western Province starting line-up for Saturday's Currie Cup clash with Griquas in Kimberley.
De Jongh, who was released from the Bok squad at the weekend, replaces Pat Howard in the No.13 jersey, the latter dropping out with a slight hamstring strain.
In one other injury-related change in the backline from Saturday's 15-14 win over the Free State Cheetahs, Gary van Aswegen (shoulder) has not been passed fit, with Kurt Coleman taking over at flyhalf in what will be his first Currie Cup start.
Coleman, however, has 29 Province caps, at Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup level, and has also made six Super Rugby appearances for the Stormers since.
In a final change to the WP starting XV this week, Springbok prop Pat Cilliers will make his first start for the Cape side, after two appearances off the bench, with recent centurion Brok Harris reverting to the bench.
And joining Harris on the bench in Kimberley will be Under-21 flyhalf Tim Swiel, one of four U21 players in this weekend's matchday squad. Swiel will make his senior Currie Cup debut for Province should he take the field on Saturday.
"We know it's going to be one massive battle (in Kimberley)," WP coach Allister Coetzee said.
"We've got to keep our approach the same. It's got to be physical and direct. It's going to be a battle at the gainline, so it's important that we get dominance and earn the right to take it wide.
"For us it's about building momentum and not letting slip the things that we've improved on last week. That's what consistency is about and that's what you need in this competition whether you're (at) home or away from home."
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 Louis Schreuder, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Michael Rhodes
3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Gerbrandt Grobler, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Tim Swiel, 22 Ryan Nell.
Date: Saturday, August 24
Venue: GWK Park, Kimberley
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Sindile Mayende
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Francois de Bruin
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee
