Returning Boks a boost for WP coach

Rudolph Jacobs

Western Province have bolstered their side with four returning Springboks for their Currie Cup clash against Griquas at Newlands tomorrow.

The champions made seven changes yesterday to the unbeaten team which trounced the Golden Lions last week, with hooker Bongi Mbonambi, prop Wilco Louw, flank Sikhumbuzo Notshe and fullback Damian Willemse all named in the starting line-up.

They were all not expected to play the full 80 minutes this weekend, with all four players likely to join the rest of the Bok squad in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

In addition to giving him the opportunity to rest some of his other star campaigners, Province coach John Dobson said it was always great to welcome their star Bok players back to the fray.

“It is always special playing at Newlands and we feel we have an exciting team that can deliver some good rugby,” Dobson said.

The four were joined in the starting line-up by another former Bok, fit-again leftwing JJ Engelbrecht.

Mbonambi and Louw were set to join Ali Vermaak in the front row, Dobson confirmed, with Caylib Oosthuizen, Scarra Ntubeni and Michael Kumbirai on the replacements bench.

Salmaan Moerat will partner captain Chris van Zyl in the second row, while Notshe will link up with Kobus van Dyk and Juarno Augustus in the loose trio.

There were three changes to the backline, with scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies making his first start of the season, Engelbrecht taking his place on the left wing and Willemse at fullback.

Scrumhalf Justin Phillips, centre Dan du Plessis and fullback Dillyn Leyds provides backline cover.