Province make one change for Pumas in Currie Cup

Western Province coach Allister Coetzee has named a starting team with one change for this weekend’s Currie Cup match against the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday.

Coetzee has named vice-captain Pat Cilliers back at tighthead prop and Brok Harris moving down to the bench for the match at the Mbombela Stadium.

Scrumhalf Nic Groom and utility back Michael van der Spuy will join Harris on the bench this week, with coach Coetzee once again reverting to a more traditional four/three split (forwards/backs) amongst his replacements.

That means that prop Oli Kebble misses out, after making his Currie Cup debut from the bench against Griquas at Newlands last Saturday, whilst Godlen Masimla also drops out this week now that Groom (SC Joint) is back to full fitness.

“The Pumas are unbeaten at the Mbombela Stadium this season, so it will be a tough challenge for us but one we’re looking forward to,” said Coetzee.

“The challenge is to win away from home in the Currie Cup – especially after slipping up in Johannesburg two weeks ago – and we need to show the same kind of intensity and accuracy that we showed in the first half against Griquas, but for 80-plus minutes.”

Western Province currently lie in first position on the 2014 Currie Cup table, with 29 points from seven games (six victories). The Pumas are in fourth position on 19 points (four wins from seven games).

Friday’s match will not be televised live.

Western Province

15. Cheslin Kolbe, 14. Kobus van Wyk, 13. Juan de Jongh (captain), 12. Jaco Taute, 11. Justin Geduld, 10. Demetri Catrakilis, 9. Louis Schreuder, 8. Nizaam Carr, 7. Michael Rhodes, 6. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5. Ruan Botha, 4. Jean Kleyn , 3. Pat Cilliers (vice-captain), 2. Scarra Ntubeni, 1. Alistair Vermaak

Replacements: 16. Neil Rautenbach, 17. Brok Harris, 18. Manuel Carizza, 19. Rohan Kitshoff, 20. Nic Groom, 21. Kurt Coleman, 22. Michael van der Spuy