Dobson tweaks WP team for crucial clash

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lock David Meihuizen comes into the starting line-up in the only change to the Western Province team to face the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Meihuizen joins JD Schickerling in the second row for the Currie Cup encounter at the Free State Stadium.

The front row duo of Scarra Ntubeni and Neethling Fouche return from injury to take their places on the replacements bench, along with loose forward Marcel Theunissen.

Western Province head coach John Dobson said that his team are intent on delivering an accurate performance in Bloemfontein.

"The continuity in selection this week will hopefully help us to build some momentum and play with some fluency.

"We know that it will take an 80-minute performance in Bloemfontein this weekend if we are to come away with the result that we are looking for," he said.

Western Province: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Jaco Coetzee, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).

Replacements - from: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Ruhan Nel, 23 Tristan Leyds, 24 Leon Lyons, 25 Chad Solomon, 26 Ben-Jason Dixon.

Date: Saturday, January 2

Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Kick-off: 16.30 (14.30)

Referee: Stuart Berry

Assistant Referees: Griffin Colby, Egon Seconds

TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen