De Villiers benched for Sharks clash
Western Province coach Allister Coetzee has named four Springboks in his starting fifteen for Saturday's final round Currie Cup encounter against the Sharks in Durban.
Outside centre Juan de Jongh, No.8 Duane Vermeulen, flanker Siya Kolisi and lock Eben Etzebeth would all start for the unbeaten defending champions, while national skipper Jean de Villiers would be on the bench.
De Villiers joined Springbok colleague Schalk Burger among the replacements, with utility forward Michael Rhodes dropping to the bench to make way for the return of second row star Etzebeth.
Flanker Rynhardt Elstadt (shoulder) missed out with an injury while No.6 Deon Fourie would again lead the Province team into battle.
"We have selected our best available team, taking into account the recent workload of someone like Jean de Villiers, and we're looking forward to facing the Sharks," Coetzee told www.wprugby.com.
Province have won seven matches so far this season and drawn two, which placed them top the log by one point over the second-placed Sharks.
A win for the Cape side - who, like the Sharks, have already secured a home semi-final - would see them finish the regular season in first position on the overall Currie Cup standings.
"There is always something at stake when you represent Western Province," said Coetzee. "We will be doing our best to pick up a win and finish the league phase of the Currie Cup unbeaten."
Western Province team:
Gio Aplon, Gerhard van den Heever, Juan de Jongh, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, Demetri Catrakilis, Louis Schreuder, Duane Vermeulen, Siya Kolisi, Deon Fourie (captain), De Kock Steenkamp, Eben Etzebeth, Pat Cilliers, Scarra Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements:
Frans Malherbe, Brok Harris, Michael Rhodes, Schalk Burger, Nic Groom, Kurt Coleman, Jean de Villiers.
(File Photo:Gallo Images)
- Sapa