Maties' Hanekom to lead WP U21
The FNB Maties' Varsity Cup-winning loose forward, Morné Hanekom, will lead the Western Province Under-21 team into battle against their Blue Bulls counterparts this Saturday.
Hanekom, who played in the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International Final against Pukke, will lead a WP U21 side jam-packed with Varsity Cup stalwarts from double champions Maties and 2008 runners-up UCT.
The Maties' Varsity Cup regulars Johann Sadie, Coenie van Wyk, Lourens Adriaanse and Hugo Kloppers will all join their skipper in the WP U21 mix, whilst UCT stars Tiger Bax, Dane Johnson, Stuart Commins and Martin Muller are also part of the WP Junior squad.
Fullback Bax, winger Johnson, inside centre Sadie, flyhalf Van Wyk, lock Muller and prop Adriaanse are all starting against the Bulls on Saturday (kick-off 2.45pm), with lock Kloppers and scrumhalf Commins on the bench.
The Western Province U21 team: 15 Tiger Bax, 14 Dane Johnson, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Johann Sadie, 11 Chris Juries, 10 Coenie van Wyk, 9 Liam Slatem, 8 Morné Hanekom (captain), 7 Yaya Hartzenberg, 6 Wimpie van der Walt, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Denzil Riddles.
Replacements: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Hein van der Merwe, 18 Hugo Kloppers, 19 Rynhardt Elstadt, 20 Stuart Commins, 21 Jurgen Visser, 22 Nathaniel Pekeur.
Meanwhile, the senior WP selectors have kept changes to a minimum for their Currie Cup fixture against the Blue Bulls later in the afternoon.
Maties Varsity Cup star Morgan Newman will once again line up in the No.13 shirt, having started in that position in Saturday's 29-15 win over the Sharks.
Newman will partner Stellenbosch colleague Peter Grant in the WP midfield, with Juan de Jongh - who played for the Men in Maroon in the inaugural Varsity Cup - on the bench.
Joe Pietersen is out with an injury, but SA Sevens ace Gio Aplon - also a Maties star - will wear the No.15 jersey for the visitors.
The Bulls-WP match kicks-off at 5.05pm.
The WP Currie Cup team: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Frikkie Welsh, 13 Morgan Newman, 12 Peter Grant, 11 Sireli Naqelevuki, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Luke Watson (captain), 7 Pieter Louw, 6 Pieter Myburgh, 5 Anton van Zyl, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Hanyani Shimange, 17 JD Moller, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Deon Fourie, 20 Conrad Hoffmann, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Tonderai Chavhanga.