Welwitschias to face top-ranked WP
It will be a battle between the top-ranked team and the bottom-placed side when DHL Western Province play the Windhoek Draught Welwitschias at the Hage Geingob Stadium tomorrow.
This will be the last group match of the Currie Cup Qualifiers. Western Province have already secured their place in the knockout stage of the tournament.
The Welwitschias, who returned to competing in the South African competition for the first time since Namibia gained independence in 1990, have found the going tough and are rooted to the bottom of the log.
They are not likely to get an easier time tomorrow as Western Province have announced a relatively strong squad for the match.
Among the star players for the visiting side is fullback Grant Hermanus, who has represented South Africa at junior level. He was also crowned the Craven Week player of the year in 2013.
Ordinarily the WP team also includes three Namibian players with Janco Venter (flank), and Damian Stevens (scrumhalf) joining flanker Christo van der Merwe in the side.
But only Van der Merwe, who is a former Namibia U-21 and WP U-21 captain, is named in the side to play the Welwitschias.
Both Venter and Stevens played for Namibia in their Africa Cup match against Kenya last weekend while Van der Merwe made his debut during that game.
Given that this will be the last match of the Currie Cup Qualifiers, the Namibian Rugby Union (NRU) has planned a day filled with fun for the family.
There will be schools’ and women’s rugby from early morning as curtain-raisers for the main event starting at 15:00.
Windhoek Draught and FNB Namibia as sponsors of the Welwitschias will provide exciting prizes and promotions throughout the day.
Teams:
Windhoek Draught Welwitschias XV: 15. Justin Nel, 14. Russell van Wyk, 13. Handré Bezuidenhout, 12. Heinrich Smit, 11. Phillip Nashikaku 10. Mahco Prinsloo, 9. JC Winkler, 8. Leneve Damens (captain), 7. Morné Blom, 6. Johan Luttig, 5. Wickus Davis, 4. Muniovita Kasiringua, 3. Collen Smith, 2. Petri Burger and 1.Quintin Esterhuizen.
Replacements: 16. Niel van Vuuren, 17. Schalk Bergh, 18.Max Katjiteko, 19. Johan Wohler, 20. Cameron Klassen, 21. Lesley Klim and 22. Shawn Kaizemi
Western Province XV: 15. Grant Hermanus,14. Khanyo Ngcukana,
13. EW Viljoen, 12. Johnny Kotze, 11. Edwil Van Der Merwe, 10. Dennis Cox
9. Justin Phillips, 8. Kobus Van Dyk, 7. Christo Van Der Merwe, 6. Rikus Bothma,
5. Chris Van Zyl (captain), 4. Jurie Van Vuuren, 3. Wilco Louw, 2. Chad Solomon and 1. JC Janse Van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16. Michael Willemse, 17. Denzil Riddles, 18. Jacques Vermeulen, 19. Eital Bredenkamp, 20. Beyers De Villiers,
21. Godlen Masimla and 22. Scot Van Breda
This will be the last group match of the Currie Cup Qualifiers. Western Province have already secured their place in the knockout stage of the tournament.
The Welwitschias, who returned to competing in the South African competition for the first time since Namibia gained independence in 1990, have found the going tough and are rooted to the bottom of the log.
They are not likely to get an easier time tomorrow as Western Province have announced a relatively strong squad for the match.
Among the star players for the visiting side is fullback Grant Hermanus, who has represented South Africa at junior level. He was also crowned the Craven Week player of the year in 2013.
Ordinarily the WP team also includes three Namibian players with Janco Venter (flank), and Damian Stevens (scrumhalf) joining flanker Christo van der Merwe in the side.
But only Van der Merwe, who is a former Namibia U-21 and WP U-21 captain, is named in the side to play the Welwitschias.
Both Venter and Stevens played for Namibia in their Africa Cup match against Kenya last weekend while Van der Merwe made his debut during that game.
Given that this will be the last match of the Currie Cup Qualifiers, the Namibian Rugby Union (NRU) has planned a day filled with fun for the family.
There will be schools’ and women’s rugby from early morning as curtain-raisers for the main event starting at 15:00.
Windhoek Draught and FNB Namibia as sponsors of the Welwitschias will provide exciting prizes and promotions throughout the day.
Teams:
Windhoek Draught Welwitschias XV: 15. Justin Nel, 14. Russell van Wyk, 13. Handré Bezuidenhout, 12. Heinrich Smit, 11. Phillip Nashikaku 10. Mahco Prinsloo, 9. JC Winkler, 8. Leneve Damens (captain), 7. Morné Blom, 6. Johan Luttig, 5. Wickus Davis, 4. Muniovita Kasiringua, 3. Collen Smith, 2. Petri Burger and 1.Quintin Esterhuizen.
Replacements: 16. Niel van Vuuren, 17. Schalk Bergh, 18.Max Katjiteko, 19. Johan Wohler, 20. Cameron Klassen, 21. Lesley Klim and 22. Shawn Kaizemi
Western Province XV: 15. Grant Hermanus,14. Khanyo Ngcukana,
13. EW Viljoen, 12. Johnny Kotze, 11. Edwil Van Der Merwe, 10. Dennis Cox
9. Justin Phillips, 8. Kobus Van Dyk, 7. Christo Van Der Merwe, 6. Rikus Bothma,
5. Chris Van Zyl (captain), 4. Jurie Van Vuuren, 3. Wilco Louw, 2. Chad Solomon and 1. JC Janse Van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16. Michael Willemse, 17. Denzil Riddles, 18. Jacques Vermeulen, 19. Eital Bredenkamp, 20. Beyers De Villiers,
21. Godlen Masimla and 22. Scot Van Breda
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article