Kolisi to lead Bok-laden WP against the Bulls

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Siya Kolisi will captain Western Province in their opening  Currie Cup encounter against the Blue Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.

The Springbok captain returns to action from injury, along with wing Seabelo Senatla for the North-South clash.

Kolisi leads a starting line-up that features seven Springboks and a Springbok Sevens player on each wing.

Fullback Warrick Gelant and wing Angelo Davids will both make their  Western Province debut, while prop Ali Vermaak and loose forward Jaco Coetzee are set to make their return from injury from the replacements bench.

Western Province Head Coach John Dobson said that his team cannot wait to get their Carling Currie Cup campaign underway.

“We cannot think of a better way to start this competition than against the Bulls at Newlands.

“We are happy to welcome some key players back from injury and will be going all-out to make a positive start in the Western Province jersey,” he said.

Western Province: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements (from): 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Kwenzo Blose, 19 Neethling Fouche, 20 David Meihuizen, 21 Chris van Zyl, 22 Jaco Coetzee, 23 Marcel Theunissen, 24 Godlen Masimla, 25 Tim Swiel, 26 Ruhan Nel.

Date: Saturday, November 28

Venue: Newlands, Cape Town

Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)

Referee: AJ Jacobs

Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Divan Uys

TMO: Rasta Rasivhenge