Province vs Pumas: There is no room for complacency this weekend...

AFTER STEPPING up to the challenge and creating excitement in a Stormers jersey, flyhalf Damian Willemse will make his Western Province Currie Cup debut when they host the Pumas at Newlands tomorrow (1pm kickoff).

Coach John Dobson has made several changes to his side for their second Currie Cup match after suffering a 30-17 defeat to the Cheetahs in their season opener and, this time, the team boasts almost an entirely Super Rugby outfit, unlike last week, where they fielded a hybrid of Super Rugby experience and SuperSport Rugby Challenge players.

Fullback SP Marais and wings Seabelo Senatla and Dillyn Leyds will form the outside backs, while EW Viljoen and Dan Kriel will partner-up in midfield with Michal Hazner, who started in Bloemfontein, providing cover on the bench.

Willemse will form the halfback pairing with Justin Phillips, with Jano Vermaak adding some experience on the bench.

In the loose trio, Nizaam Carr comes into the mix in the place of Sikhumbuzo Notshe, who “had his knee cleaned out” after there was swelling following the Cheetahs game, at No 8, while Steph de Wit and Kobus van Dyk will pack down at No 6 and 7 respectively. Johan du Toit and Jaco Coetzee will add loosie trio back-up among the replacements.

The second-row pairing of JD Schickerling and captain Chris van Zyl is the only combination that remains unchanged, while the only other changes come in the front row where Ali Vermaak is joined by hooker Bongi Mbonambi and Frans van Wyk. JC Janse van Rensburg and Currie Cup debutant Michael Kumbirai will add grunt from the bench along with hooker Scarra Ntubeni, who featured off the bench the week after a long injury lay-off.

Dobson said that the spirit in the camp during training this week was full of energy, while he also added that they couldn’t afford to underestimate the Pumas.

“That is the consequence of last week (complacency), and we can’t take any chances this week. If we mess up against the Pumas, our season is really in trouble,” the coach said.

“There’s no room for complacency this weekend.”