Willemse starts at No 10 for WP
Damian Willemse will start at flyhalf for Western Province when they meet the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Willemse‚ 20‚ was the Stormers’ regular starting flyhalf this season but has recently been making cameos at fullback for the Springboks. However‚ WP coach John Dobson has decided to deploy the talented youngster in his most familiar position for this match.
Province need only one point from the encounter to secure overall top spot on the Currie Cup standings.
Willemse is one of three returning Springboks to the WP starting line-up following their 50-28 win over the Sharks two weeks ago.
No 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe starts at the back of the scrum in place of Jaco Coetzee while tighthead Wilco Louw takes over from Michael Kumbirai.
Centre Ruhan Nel‚ who was with the Bok squad but did not play‚ will be at outside centre, as he was against the Sharks.
In the front row, Louw starts alongside hooker Scarra Ntubeni and prop Ali Vermaak‚ with skipper Chris van Zyl and JD Schickerling the lock pairing.
Scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies will form an all-new halfback pairing with Willemse‚ while Dan du Plessis makes 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 remains unchanged.
Dobson said his team are expecting a typically tough examination at Loftus Versfeld.
“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.”