Province stick with tried and tested
Dobson has rightly kept faith with the starting line-up which did duty against Griquas last weekend, but lock Jan de Klerk and back Kobus van Wyk come in on the bench against the Cheetahs.
De Klerk replaces Chris van Zyl in a rotational switch, while Van Wyk comes in for Johnny Kotze who took a bang to his head at training on Monday.
“We have a plan, in terms of game time for certain players moving forward. But, at the same time, we need some continuity in our team and (our) performances, so we have retained the same starting line-up from last week with just those two changes on the bench,” Dobson told the official WP Rugby website.
“I said after last week’s Griquas game that we need to make an improvement and we have worked on those issues - most notably our discipline - during the week and we hope to put that in place against the Cheetahs.
“Forget the Cheetahs’ loss to the Bulls (last week) - it was a freakish game in many way. The Cheetahs are always a tough team and they’re always up for playing against Province at Newlands - it tends to raise their game in a way too.”
Dobson will be in charge of a Western Province Currie Cup team at Newlands for the first time this weekend and he is looking forward to the experience.
“For me, having grown up in the Cape, it truly is a big honour to be coaching the senior Currie Cup team at this historic ground of ours,” he said.
“However, I am particularly excited about feeling the full force of the Newlands faithful behind us. As coaches, especially as a new coaching unit, we know the responsibilities that go with coaching at this union - and coaching at Newlands - and we would love to open our 2015 home campaign on a high.”
Western Province:
15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oli Kebble
Substitutes: 16 Marius Fourie, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Jan de Klerk, 19 Chris Cloete, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Kobus van Wyk.
Jacasport