WP head to Bloemfontein without Siya Kolisi for key Cheetahs clash

Lock David Meihuizen comes into the starting line-up in the only change to the Western Province team to face the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

CHEETAHS V WP WILL KICK OFF AT 16:30

Meihuizen joins JD Schickerling in the second row for the Currie Cup encounter against the Free State side, which kicks off at 16:30 at the Toyota Stadium.

The front row duo of Scarra Ntubeni and Neethling Fouche return from injury to take their places on the substitutes’ bench, along with loose forward Marcel Theunissen.

WP coach John Dobson said that his team are intent on delivering an accurate performance in Bloemfontein.

“The continuity in selection this week will hopefully help us to build some momentum and play with some fluency.

“We know that it will take an 80-minute performance in Bloemfontein this weekend if we are to come away with the result that we are looking for,” he said.

SIYA KOLISI WON’T MAKE THE TRIP TO BLOEMFONTEIN

The team will be captained by prop Stephen Kitshoff in the absence of Siya Kolisi.

Kolisi was a late withdrawal from the WP side ahead of last weekend’s clash against Griquas after coming in contact with someone Covid-19 positive.

Despite subsequently testing negative, Kolisi won’t make the trip to Bloemfontein.

Victory for WP would secure their playoff spot and while a loss wouldn’t rule them out of contention, it would make their final clash at home against the Sharks a potential do-or-die affair.

For the Cheetahs, victory is essential if they are to progress to the semi-finals and keep any hope alive of defending their title.

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TEAMS:

Cheetahs

TBA

Western Province

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Jaco Coetzee, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain)

Substitutes (from): 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Ruhan Nel, 23 Tristan Leyds, 24 Leon Lyons, 25 Chad Solomon, 26 Ben-Jason Dixon