WP U19s face Lions at City Park

IT will be win number eight from nine starts for the secondplaced Western Province Under-19 rugby team if they get the better of the Golden Lions at City Park in Crawford today.

The Lions, who have a seven-point lead at the summit of the seven-team log, will be chasing a ninth win from 10 outings, the sole defeat registered at home against today’s opponents.

The national Provincial fixture kicks off at 12pm.

The later game sees Province’s U21s playing their Lions counterparts (kickoff 1.45pm).

The four teams contested last year’s finals and saw the Johannesburg- based Lions crowned national champions courtesy of a pair of narrow victories.

Province U19 coach Nazeem Adams has brought in two new props for the encounter in the form of Sazi Sandli (tighthead) and Lyon Lyons (loosehead).

There is just the one change in the backline with Sako Makata in at right wing.

“We meet a tough foe and will need to be on-guard from the get-go,” said Adams.

“Call it an acid test of our credentials.

“Like us, the Lions have only had their colours lowered once, so a humdinger is on the cards and we must make the most of our chances.

“The fact that we’ve made minimal changes to the run-on XV shows that we are on track with our combinations.

“The boys have worked hard and expect them to put their best foot forward in all departments.”

Province’s U21s will be without the services of injured star loose-forward Juarno Augustus.

His place at the back of the scrum will be taken by Nyasha Tarusenga.