There is an all-new front row among the changes to the DHL Western Province team for the Carling Currie Cup encounter with Novavit Griffons at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
WP will be looking to do the double over the visitors from Welkom this season, when action gets underway at 5.15pm on Saturday. Tickets are available from Ticketpro.
Gates at DHL Stadium will open at 1pm, with DHL WP Women in action in their semi-final against the Boland Dames at 2pm.
Props Vernon Matongo and Corne Weilbach come into the starting team and will line up either side of experienced hooker Scarra Ntubeni, while Andre Goedhals starts in the second row, with Hendre Stassen ruled out with an injury niggle
There are several changes to the backline, with Clayton Blommetjies at flyhalf and Damian Markus getting his first start of the campaign alongside him at inside centre.
The talented JC Mars will make his senior Province debut on the wing, with Luke Burger back at fullback.
There are also potential debuts for tighthead prop and Junior Springbok captain Zachary Porthen, lock Enos Ndiao and young flyhalf Kyle Smith, who are included on a replacements bench that also features experienced Springbok Sevens campaigner Justin Geduld.
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that this will be another great opportunity for the players coming in to impress at DHL Stadium.
"It is fantastic to see some seriously talented young players like the three on debut get a run at DHL Stadium and we have also managed to retain a core of experience to help them make the step up.
"It will be another big test for us and we want to shine at home after three weeks on the road, so it all adds up to what should be a great day of rugby at DHL Stadium, with DHL WP Women in action in the curtain-raiser as well," he said.
DHL Western Province starting XV: 15 Luke Burger, 14 JC Mars, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Angelo Davids; 10 Clayton Blommetjies, 9 Imad Khan; 8 Willie Engelbrecht (capt), 7 Divan Fuller, 6 Paul de Villiers; 5 Gary Porter, 4 Andre Goedhals; 3 Corne Weilbach, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Mhleli Khuzwayo, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Enos Ndiao, 20 CJ Velleman, 21 Labib Kannemeyer, 22 Kyle Smith, 23 Justin Geduld.
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