DHL Western Province don’t yet have any log points to show for their endeavours after two rounds of the Carling Currie Cup but what they are racking up is senior rugby experience for players who have starred in their age-group teams.
There are five changes to the Province team for Friday afternoon’s clash with Suzuki Griquas in Kimberley and while the changes to the starting team don’t feature any newcomers there is a raft on them on the bench.
Junior Springbok props Oliver Reid and Hermann Lubbe are now back in the mix after being part of the winning group at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship and both players will make their senior debuts off the bench at the Suzuki Stadium.
Lock Adam de Waal and loose-forward Aden da Costa, who have both starred for WP age-group teams, are also set to make their first senior appearances off the bench.
There are a few rotational switches in the starting team, with the more experienced Jurie Matthee now having recovered from his concussion and back in the No 10 jersey for Kyle Smith, who did well in his two successive appearances at pivot but is now himself battling with a slight niggle.
Tristan Leyds makes his first start at fullback in a rotation with fellow Blitzbok Sevens star Shilton van Wyk, with Justin Geduld coming in at centre in rotation with Luke Burger, who moves to the bench after starting in the first two rounds.
In the loose forwards De Wet Marais makes his return from injury at blindside flank while in the front row Mhleli Khuzwayo makes his first start of the season.
Going to Kimberley is a tough ask for any team in the Currie Cup but while playing on a Friday means a short turnaround for WP after last week’s Saturday game against the ADT Fidelity Lions in Johannesburg, they have had one more day than their opponents to recover and prepare.
Griquas won a high scoring but bruising thriller against Boland Cavaliers on Sunday, so for them it is a five day turnaround.
DHL Western Province team: Tristan Leydes, Sako Makata, Justin Geduld, Damian Markus, Jared Africa, Jurie Matthee, Asad Moos, Louw Nel, De Wet Marais, Zain Davids (captain), Gary Porter, Alex Groves, Zachary Porthen, Scarra Ntubeni, Mhleli Khuswayo. Replacements: Lukhanyo Vokozela, Oliver Reid, Herman Lubbe, Adam de Waal, Aden da Costa, Ezekiel Ngobeni, Luke Burger, Shilton van Wyk.