Western Province coach Labeeb Levy is rolling up his sleeves as his youthful squad braces for a tough showdown against the Lions at Ellis Park this Saturday. After a bruising 48-23 loss to the Vodacom Bulls, WP is shaking things up with fresh legs and strategic swaps aiming for redemption.
The line-up sees Sako Makata and Jared Africa taking wing duties from the injured Courtnall Skosan and Quewin Nortje, while Zachary Porthen is set to anchor the scrum as tighthead prop. Meanwhile, Gideon van Wyk steps up as blindside flank, and Louw Nel transitions to No 8. "The changes on the wings were forced by injury," Levy disclosed. "But it’s also an opportunity for players like Jared and Sako, who impressed in training. We’ve also brought in Gideon, and Zach is excited after being out for a few weeks."
"This tournament is about exposing new players, but we also want to perform well. We saw glimpses of what we’re capable of last week, and now it’s about building on that. Winning helps, but the main thing is to grow quickly as a group."
Despite their opening setback, team captain Zain Davids remains optimistic, noting the team's learning curve. "There were a lot of debuts and some guys were playing Currie Cup for the first time, so there were nerves. The yellow cards didn’t help, but that’s in the past. We’ve parked that result and our focus this week is on our discipline and executing the plan the coaches have given us."
Levy pinpointed the areas the Lions are likely to exploit. "The Bulls clash showed exactly where teams will target WP. We expect the Lions to test us at the set piece and also with their kicking game, which is very effective. We’ve prepared for both. For us, it’s about improving in those areas and sticking to our style."
As the Lions come off a resounding 46-5 victory over a youthful Sharks squad, featuring several URC players, the pressure is certainly mounting. But with WP's revamped squad and a clear focus on growth and discipline, Saturday's match at Ellis Park is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for Levy's lions in the making.