De Jongh back for Province

Springbok centre Juan de Jongh has been drafted back into the Western Province starting line-up for Saturday's Currie Cup with the Griquas in Kimberley.

De Jongh, who was released from the Bok squad at the weekend, replaces Pat Howard at centre, with Howard dropping out with a hamstring strain.

In the other injury-related change, Gary van Aswegen (shoulder) failed a fitness test and as a result Kurt Coleman takes over at flyhalf in what will be his first Currie Cup start.

The only other change sees Springbok prop Pat Cilliers making his first start for the Cape side, after two appearances from the bench, with recent Brok Harris relegated to the bench.

Joining Harris on the bench in Kimberley will be WP under-21 flyhalf Tim Swiel, one of four under-21 players in this weekend's matchday squad.

Swiel will make his senior Currie Cup debut for Province, should he take the field on Saturday.

"We know it's going to be one massive battle in Kimberley," coach Allister Coetzee said earlier today."We've got to keep our approach the same. It's got to be physical and direct. It's going to be a battle at the gainline, so it's important that we get dominance and earn the right to take it wide."For us it's about building momentum and not letting slip the things that we've improved on last week. That's what consistency is about and that's what you need in this competition whether you're (at) home or away from home."

WP team:

Gio Aplon, Gerhard van den Heever, Juan de Jongh, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt Coleman, Louis Schreuder, Nizaam Carr, Rynhardt Elstadt, Deon Fourie (capt), De Kock Steenkamp, Michael Rhodes, Pat Cilliers (First Absa Currie Cup start for DHL Western Province), Scarra Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements:

Tiaan Liebenberg, Brok Harris, Gerbrandt Grobler, Rohan Kitshoff, Nic Groom, Tim Swiel, Ryan Nell.

(File Photo:Gallo Images)

- Sapa

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