CAPE TOWN – Springboks Damian de Allende and Dillyn Leyds have been included in Western Province’s run-on side to host Griquas at Newlands on Saturday (5.15pm kickoff).
De Allende comes in at No 12 to form the midfield partnership with Huw Jones, who shifts to outside centre, while Leyds replaces Craig Barry at fullback to fill out the outside backs along with wings Seabelo Senatla and Werner Kok, with Ruhan Nel providing cover on the replacements bench.
In the absence of Jano Vermaak, who is being rested, Dewaldt Duvenage partners with flyhalf Damian Willemse, with Justin Phillips and Robert du Preez set to feature off the bench.
Up front, Wilco Louw returns from the Springbok set-up, while Chad Solomon will earn his first start of the Currie Cup campaign, and in the second row, skipper Chris van Zyl will make his 50th appearance for Western Province.
On the bench, hooker Dean Muir and loose forward Johan du Toit are both set to make their Currie Cup bows for Province if they come off the bench.
WP coach John Dobson said that his team are looking forward to playing their last round-robin game at Newlands before concluding their group-stage campaign with three away games against the Blue Bulls, Golden Lions and the Sharks.
“We know that we have to raise our standards significantly, and the players are excited to play at Newlands again,” Dobson said.
“It is great to have some players back from Springbok duty, but the focus is on delivering a convincing team performance,” he said.
Western Province Team
15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Werner Kok, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Cobus Wiese, 6 Jaco Coetzee, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Chris van Zyl (captain), 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Bench: 16 Dean Muir, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Johan du Toit, 19 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 20 Justin Phillips, 21 Robert du Preez, 22 Ruhan Nel.
@WynonaLouw