Western Province coach Allister Coetzee has made two changes to his team, both of them in the front row, for the clash with defending Currie Cup champions the Sharks at Newlands this weekend.
Promising young prop Steven Kitshoff gets an opportunity to start in the Currie Cup after a number of strong performances for the Western Province Under-21 team and he replaces Wicus Blaauw who drops out of the match-day squad altogether.
The only other change is at hooker where skipper Tiaan Liebenberg has been rotated with Deon Fourie who also takes over the captaincy reins as Liebenberg moves to the replacements bench.
Coetzee commented: "Steven [Kitshoff] has been playing exceptionally well at U21 level and deserves a start. He got some Super Rugby experience earlier this year and I would like to continue that development now in the Currie Cup. It will again be a stern test, but he is a player for the future and that is how you develop as a player.
As stated we have two goals this season, to do well in the competition and to ensure we have experienced depth for Super Rugby next season. He came through Super Rugby well and we have no doubt he is more than ready for this level. Unfortunately this means Wicus needs to sit out this match," added the Western Province boss.
On the hooker rotation Coetzee said: "We have two great hookers and leaders and we will look to give them both game time through the season.
Tiaan suffered a muscle spasm yesterday in the gym, he is fine now, but will be benched this week with Deon retaking the No.2 jersey and captaincy. Deon captained the opening two games of the season."
Western Province: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie (captain), 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Adriaan Fondse, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Berton Klaasen, 22 Marcel Brache.
Date: Friday, August 12
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
Assistant referees: Christie `du Preez, Rasta Rashivenga
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee
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