An exciting young WP side has been named to play the Lions on Friday night, but it is certainly not a Stormers side, as indicated in the initial fixture list.
Alongside Stormers scrumhalf Nic Groom and hooker Scarra Ntubeni, coach John Dobson has named a match 22 including twelve under 21 players, as well as a handful of Province club and Vodacom Cup players.
“It’s an exciting Province team and a good opportunity for these talented young players to make a step up against a Lions outfit that is settled and playing some great attacking rugby.” said Dobson. “The friendly is of great importance to us as we prepare for the domestic competitions, as it provides crucial game time out of competition phase and an opportunity for many of these players to put their hands up for inclusion in the squads for the domestic competitions later this year.”
The WP team to play the Lions on Friday at 19h00 at Ellis Park is:
15. Dillyn Leyds
14. Pat Howard
13. Berton Klaasen
12. Michael van der Spuy
11. Devon Williams
10. Tim Swiel
9. Nic Groom
8. Rayn Smid
7. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
6. Joshua Katzen
5. Wilhelm van der Sluys
4. Taz Fuzani
3. Dylan Rogers
2. Scarra Ntubeni
1. Ashley Wells
Bench
16. Stephan Coetzee
17. Allistair Vermaak
18. Jean Kleyn
19. Carel du Preez
20. Ryan Olivier
21. Godlin Masimla
22. Kobus van Wyk
Meanwhile, Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has announced his side for the match. CJ van der Linde, Hendrik Roodt and Derick Minnie all return to the starting side, while Ruan Combrinck moves into the starting line-up at fullback.
1. JC Janse van Rensburg
2. Robbie Coetzee
3. CJ van der Linde
4. Hendrik Roodt
5. Hugo Kloppers
6. Jaco Kriel
7. Derick Minnie
8. Warren Whiteley (C)
9. Michael Bondesio (VC)
10. Marnitz Boshoff
11. Anthony Volmink
12. Alwyn Hollenbach
13. Stokkies Hanekom
14. Deon van Rensburg
15. Ruan Combrinck
Bench:
16. Francois du Toit
17. Jacques van Rooyen
18. Gavin Annandale
19. Willie Britz
20. Ross Cronje
21. Dylan des Fountain
22. Lionel Cronje
23. Kobus de Kock
24. Julian Redelinghuys
