Dynamic hooker Deon Fourie has been named as captain of the Western Province team that will take on the Griquas in their opening Currie Cup match at Newlands on Saturday.
With both captain Duane Vermeulen and his deputy Dewaldt Duvenage currently sidelined through injury Fourie has been named as interim captain for what should be a testing game for the youthful team.
The team includes the props that started the Super Rugby semifinal against the Crusaders but the only other player in the pack that did duty that day is No.8 Nick Koster. Locks De Kock Steenkamp and Hilton Lobberts will be keen to make an impression in the absence of the injured Rynhardt Elstadt and Andries Bekker who is on Springbok duty.
SA Under-20 flank Siya Kolisi has recovered from injuries sustained from his recent mugging and he will form an exciting loose trio partnership with Koster and Wimpie van der Walt.
Flyhalf Gary van Aswegen is back from injury and he will be looking to release the dangerous runners outside him in the form of players such as Tim Whitehead, Johann Sadie and Danie Poolman while Conrad Jantjies will lend his considerable experience from fullback.
Western Province: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Wimpie van der Walt, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie (captain), 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Adriaan Fondse, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Nick Groom, 21 Demetri Catrikilis, 22 Marcel Brache.
Date: Saturday, July 16
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Assistant referees: Mark Lawrence, Cobus Wessels
TMO: Johann Meuwesen
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