WP switch up for Cheetahs hunt
07/12/2024 06:12 AM
Andre-Hugo Venter returns as one of five changes to the DHL Western Province lineup to tackle the defending Currie Cup champion Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Venter was released from the Springbok camp on Wednesday – one of nine players sent to their provincial unions for possible game time before next week's historic match against Portugal in Bloem – and features on the bench for the Free State Stadium clash.
Director of rugby John Dobson has kept faith with most of the personnel that salvaged two bonus points from a narrow loss to the Vodacom Bulls at Cape Town Stadium in the opening round of the 2024 Currie Cup last week.
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There are three changes to the WP pack for the trip to the City of Roses. Hendre Stassen and Paul de Villiers are promoted to the starting XV, replacing Connor Evans and CJ Velleman at blindside and openside flanker, respectively.
Evans will partner Gary Porter in the second row, as Adre Smith is ruled out with a hamstring injury. Velleman has been named among the replacements.
Western Province – 15 Luke Burger, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (c), 7 Hendre Stassen, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Subs: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Andre-Hugo Venter, 20 CJ Velleman, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Labib Kannemeyer, 23 Damian Markus.
Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images
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