WP make five changes for Sharks’ visit

DHL Western Province coach John Dobson has made five changes to his starting team for Wednesday’s Carling Currie Cup clash with the Cell C Sharks at Cape Town Stadium.

The match has been rescheduled from 7pm to a 5pm kick-off because of the new Covid curfew introduced on Sunday and is now the only midweek game to be played on Wednesday after the Covid enforced cancellation of the scheduled match between the Toyota Cheetahs and Vodacom Blue Bulls in Bloemfontein.

Three of the changes to the home side’s starting team from the side that lost narrowly to the Lions in Johannesburg last week come at the back, with Rikus Pretorius switching back to inside centre in place of the injured Dan du Plessis, with Cornel Smit coming in as his new midfield partner.

Edwill van der Merwe is back to start on the wing for the first time in the Currie Cup season, while Tim Swiel’s return to the No 10 jersey in place of Abner van Reenen sees Sergeal Petersen move back to fullback.

Former Lions loose-forward Hacjivah Dayimani makes his first start for WP in this match, which means that Evan Roos is back at No 8 for the clash with his old teammates, while loan player Reinach Venter answers a bit of a hooker crisis for WP by scrumming down between Ali Vermaak and Neethling Fouche.

DHL WESTERN PROVINCE TEAM: Sergeal Petersen, Seabelo Senatla, Cornel Smit, Rikus Pretorius, Edwill van der Merwe, Tim Swiel, Paul de Wet, Evan Roos, Hacjivah Dayimani, Marcel Theunissen, David Meihuizen, Ernst van Rhyn (captain), Neethling Fouche, Reinach Venter, Ali Vermaak.

Replacements (from): Jason Alexander, Leon Lyons, Sazi Sandi, Justin Basson, Johan du Toit, Juarno Augustus, Godlen Masimla, Abner van Reenen, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, Lyle Hendricks.