Western Province have been boosted by the inclusion of two Junior Springbok world champions in their starting line-up to face the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday, 16 August.
Riley Norton and Gino Cupido have been included in the starting XV for the Currie Cup encounter at Toyota Stadium, which kicks off at 14:00.
Senior debut
Joel Leotlela is on the left wing and will link up with Sevens stars Shilton van Wyk and Tristan Leyds in a speedy back three, while Cupido will partner Damian Markus in midfield.
Norton will make his senior debut at blindside flank, with Gideon van Wyk on the other side of the scrum in place of the injured Zain Davids.
Gary Porter takes over the captaincy from Davids and features in an unchanged tight five, while hooker Luca Bakkes and loose forward Enos Ndiao come onto the replacements bench.
‘Talented players’
Head coach Labeeb Levy said that his team is focused on producing an 80-minute performance in Bloemfontein.
“We have got some incredibly talented players coming in this week and they are surrounded by a settled core who are ready to raise the standards in every area.
“Travelling to Bloemfontein is always a big challenge, but it is once we are embracing. We will need to be on our game from the first to the last whistle to get the result we need,” he said.
WP have lost all three of their 2025 Currie Cup matches to date and lie bottom of the eight-team standings.
The Cheetahs, meanwhile, find themselves in second place after two wins and a loss.
TEAMS
Cheetahs
TBA
Western Province
15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Shilton van Wyk, 13 Gino Cupido, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Joel Leotlela, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Asad Moos, 8 Louw Nel, 7 Riley Norton, 6 Gideon van Wyk, 5 Gary Porter (captain), 4 Alex Groves, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Mhleli Khuzwayo
Replacements: 16 Luca Bakkes, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Herman Lubbe, 19 Adam de Waal, 20 Enos Ndiao, 21 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22 Luke Burger, 23 Jared Africa
Another defeat looming for Western Province?
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