Coach Dobson calls on four Springboks

Western Province coach John Dobson bolstered his unbeaten Currie Cup side yesterday with the inclusion of four of his five returning Springboks for the big derby tomorrow.

While hooker Bongi Mbonambi was omitted, flyhalf Damian Willemse, prop Wilco Louw, No 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe and noncapped centre Ruhan Nel were all included in the Province team.

Mbonambi was being rested, with Scarra Ntubeni retaining the No 2 jumper, while Dobson named just two backs on his bench in scrumhalf Paul de Wet and flyhalf Joshua Stander, the former Bulls pivot.

With Province already having secured a home semifinal, a win would cement top spot and a potential home final, while the Blue Bulls were aiming to claim third position, just one point ahead of the chasing Golden Lions.

“The Blue Bulls will obviously be highly motivated for this match, which should provide us with the sort of challenge we need ahead of the play-offs,” Dobson said.

Louw was set to play his 50th match for Province and was starting alongside Ntubeni and prop Ali Vermaak in an impressive front row combination, with skipper Chris van Zyl and JD Schickerling forming the dynamic lock pairing.

Notshe was at No 8, flanked by Kobus van Dyk and former lock Ernst van Rhyn in the loose trio, while scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies was due to form an all-new half-back pairing with Willemse, and Dan du Plessis was making his first start of the season in midfield alongside Nel.

The outside back combination of Dillyn Leyds at fullback and wings Sergeal Petersen and SP Marais remained unchanged.

Dillyn Leyds, Sergeal Petersen, Ruhan Nel, Dan du Plessis, SP Marais, Damian Willemse, Herschel Jantjies, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Ernst van Rhyn, Kobus van Dyk, JD Schickerling, Chris van Zyl (capt), Wilco Louw, Scarra Ntubeni, Ali Vermaak. Chad Solomon, Caylib Oosthuizen, Neethling Fouche, Salmaan Moerat, Jaco Coetzee, Paul de Wet, Josh Stander.

Bench: