Kavaliers understand their Cape Town assignment

Wayrin Losper. Skhu Nkomphela

The Sanlam Boland Kavaliers head coach, Hawies Fourie, has named his team to face DHL Western Province in the Carling Currie Cup on Saturday at DHL Stadium in Cape Town.

With five teams still battling for semi-final places, the Kavaliers know a victory is crucial to keep their top-four hopes alive.

Thurlow Marsh will lead the side while donning the No 8 jersey. Marsh, along with Sibusiso Sangweni and Sauliegh Arendse, complete the loose trio.

The visitors head into the clash following a narrow last-minute defeat against the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV in Pietermaritzburg last Friday. Fourie’s chargers will be determined to take control of their own destiny rather than rely on other results to go in their favour.

There are a handful of changes to the match-day squad. Among the forwards, experienced lock Marlyn Williams, who captained the team earlier in the campaign before being sidelined by injury, returns to the starting XV in place of Jurie van Vuuren, who moves to the bench.

In the backline, scrumhalf Chriswill September returns to partner Juan Mostert, who remains at flyhalf with Ashlon Davids still sidelined. David Brits reclaims the No 13 jersey, with the versatile Erik Lambrecht shifting to the bench.

At fullback, regular goalkicker James Tedder has been ruled out after picking up an injury at training this week. Domenic Smit replaces him in the starting lineup, while Jayden Bantom, who joined the Kavaliers from the Eastern Province Elephants after the SA Cup, earns a spot on the bench and could make his Kavaliers debut.

Among the replacements, Llewellyn Classen takes over as hooker cover from HP van Schoor, while Lamla Nunu comes in at loosehead prop. Mthokozisi Gumede swaps the No 17 jersey for the No 18 to provide tighthead cover. With Khwezi Mafu unavailable due to a minor injury, the experienced Van Vuuren provides loose forward cover.

Saturday’s clash, dubbed the N1 Derby by the media, kicks off at 2.45pm with referee Morné Ferreira taking charge of the fixture.

DHL Western Province starting XV: 15 Luke Burger, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas; 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Stefan Ungerer; 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Deon Fourie (capt); 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling: 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Cabous Eloff, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Connor Evans, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Jurie Matthee, 23 Wandisile Simelane.

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers starting XV: 15 Domenic Smit, 14 Donavan Don, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Xavier Mitchell; 10 Juan Mostert, 9 Chriswill September; 8 Thurlow Marsh (capt), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Sauliegh Arendse; 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Michael Benadie; 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Wayrin Losper. Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Mthokozisi Gumede, 19 Ameer Hendricks, 20 Jurie van Vuuren, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Erik Lambrecht, 23 Jayden Bantom.