CONFIRMED: WP lose Bok star ahead of semifinal

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Siya Kolisi is back to captain Western Province in their Currie Cup semifinal against the Sharks at Newlands on Saturday.

Having missed the previous two games due to COVID-19 protocols, Kolisi returns at openside flank for the play-off match.

There are two further changes to the forward pack, with lock Salmaan Moerat also making his return, while in the front row loosehead prop Ali Vermaak makes his first start of the season in the absence of Steven Kitshoff who was ruled out through COVID-19 protocols.

The backline that did duty in Western Province’s victory against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein three weeks ago remains unchanged.

Western Province head coach John Dobson said that his team is intent on making the most of every minute out on the Newlands pitch on Saturday.

"We have earned the right to play this semifinal at Newlands and we want to deliver a fitting performance on Saturday.

"We have had time to prepare properly and we are fielding a number of settled combinations, so the challenge is to go out there and put together an 80-minute performance and secure our place in the final next week," 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 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ali Vermaak.

Replacements - from: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Ernst van Rhyn, 21 Jaco Coetzee, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Ruhan Nel, 24 Sazi Sandi, 25 Tristan Leyds.

Date: Saturday, January 23

Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town

Kick-off: 16.30 (14.30 GMT)

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Assistant Referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Aimee Barrett-Theron

TMO: Stuart Berry