Siya Kolisi will captain Western Province in their opening Currie Cup encounter against the Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 19:00.
WP HAVE A BLITZBOK STAR ON EACH WING
The Springbok captain returns to action after an injury picked up during the recently-concluded Super Rugby Unlocked tournament, along with wing Seabelo Senatla for the north-south clash.
Kolisi leads a starting line-up that features seven Springboks and a Springbok Sevens player on each wing.
Fullback Warrick Gelant and wing Angelo Davids will both make their Western Province debuts, while prop Ali Vermaak and loose forward Jaco Coetzee are set to make their return from injury from the replacements bench.
Western Province coach John Dobson said that his team cannot wait to get their Currie Cup campaign underway.
“We cannot think of a better way to start this competition than against the Bulls at Newlands.
“We are happy to welcome some key players back from injury and will be going all-out to make a positive start in the Western Province jersey,” he said.
TEAMS:
Western Province
15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes (from): 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Kwenzo Blose, 19 Neethling Fouche, 20 David Meihuizen, 21 Chris van Zyl, 22 Jaco Coetzee, 23 Marcel Theunissen, 24 Godlen Masimla, 25 Tim Swiel, 26 Ruhan Nel
Bulls
15. David Kriel, 14. Travis Ismaiel, 13. Stedman Gans, 12. Cornal Hendricks, 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10. Chris Smith, 9. Ivan van Zyl, 8. Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7. Arno Botha, 6. Marco van Staden, 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Walt Steenkamp, 3. Trevor Nyakane, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 1. Jacques van Rooyen
Substitutes: 16. Corniel Els, 17. Gerhard Steenekamp, 18. Marcel van der Merwe, 19. Sintu Manjezi, 20. Nizaam Carr, 21. Embrose Papier, 22. Clinton Swart, 23. Marco Jansen van Vuren
