Rassie Erasmus’ options in the Springbok front row for the two forthcoming Castle Lager Rugby Championship matches against the All Blacks have been boosted by Steven Kitshoff’s return to the playing field.
The double World Cup winning loosehead prop has been out of rugby for several months through injury but has been named in the DHL Western Province starting team for Saturday’s Carling Currie Cup clash with the ADT Fidelity Lions in Johannesburg. Bok coach Erasmus did mention in a press conference zoomed from Perth earlier in the week that Kitshoff would be one of the players returning to the mix and he will no doubt be keeping tabs on how Kitshoff goes.
It is Kitshoff’s first game for a Cape team since returning for what turned into just a one season stint with the Irish team, Ulster and the game will also feature another player who is now a Springbok and who has been in Erasmus’ wider squad this season in the form of hooker Andre-Hugo Venter. With veteran Bok Scarra Ntubeni leading the Province side in the No 2 jersey, Venter will play off the bench.
The match also marks the first start at senior level of Junior Bok skipper Zachary Porthen, who played off the bench against the Toyota Cheetahs last week.
DHL Western Province team: Luke Burger, JC Mars, Wandesile Simelane, Damian Markus, Angelo Davids, Jurie Matthee, Dewaldt Duvenage, Divan Fuller, Louw Nel, CJ Velleman, Hendre Stassen, Andre Goedhals, Zachary Porthen, Scarra Ntubeni (captain), Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: Andre-Hugo Venter, Vernon Matongo, Corne Wellbach, Enos Ndiao, Paul de Villiers, Sibusiso Sangweni, Ezekiel Ngobeni, Joshua Boulle