WP coach Allister Coetzee has selected Damian de Allende at No 12 for Saturday’s Currie Cup final against the Sharks.
De Allende replaces Marcel Brache in that crucial position; the first time he will partner Juan de Jongh in midfield. This is the only change made by Coetzee following last week’s semi-final win against the Golden Lions.
A season-ending injury to Ederies Arendse allowed De Allende to come into the squad, and a string of strong performances eventually saw him securing a starting berth on the wing during the latter half of the season.
The WP management now feels that the powerful player is good enough to start at No 12 in the most important game of the Currie Cup season.
Gio Aplon is retained at fullback despite the superior kicking game of Joe Pietersen. Former Springbok prop Deon Carstens and provincial veteran Brok Harris are also named on the bench, with younger front rowers in Frans Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff backed to start.
Western Province – 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Don Armand, 6 Deon Fourie (c), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Deon Carstens, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 19 Jebb Sinclair, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Marcel Brache, 22 Joe Pietersen.
Again one asks why has Du Plessis been ignored! I can only hope scurra doesnt sink our front row.
GO WP! Time to give the uppity guppies a severe wake up call and a reminder of who is the future.
I hear also that Taute has an option to move permanently to WP. Expect him to choose that. All young players can see where the best place to be is. Hahahahahahhaha now all we need is a top coach and success is assured.
