News
Leopards and Boland named for opener
July 07 2009
Leopards coach Chaka Willemse has announced the matchday 22 for Friday's Currie Cup opener against the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington.
They will be without lock Rudi Mathee, who has been ruled out with a hand injury.
Mathee's place in the side goes to the two-metre tall Anthonie Gronum while Ligtoring Landman has been selected ahead of the regular Draad Linde in the other second row berth.
Regular goal-kicker and fly-half Clayton Durand is fully fit and will start. Durand had the highest goal-kicking success rate in the country last season and is vital to the Leopards' challenge in the Premier Division.
He missed most of the Vodacom Cup but made a brisk comeback appearance against the Pumas late in the tournament.
Hooker Gavin Williamson, who was forced to play most of the Vodacom Cup from the bench, has regained his place and will pack down between Nardus Lombard and Os van der Walt.
There are a number of surprise selections, including that of Van der Walt ahead of Philip Lemmer, and number eight Christo van Niekerk.
The selection of inside centre Japie Nel will again raise eyebrows while Riaan Smit could count himself unlucky not to be included in the matchday 22.
Wilhelm Koch will lead the Leopards against the Boland where the Koch's were a household name in the fifties and sixties.
Meanwhile Boland Cavaliers coach Deon Davids as announced his matchday 22 for the opening match of this year's Currie Cup against the Leopards in Wellington.
Number eight Junior Bester, former Eastern Province and Falcons wing Luvo Sogidashe and full-back Justin Peach represent the young guns from Boland while Fly-half Elgar Watts' will have a busy day in what are expected to be wet conditions.
Davids has entrusted experienced hooker Conrad Burke with the captaincy.
Boland Cavaliers: 15 Justin Peach, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Dewey Swartbooi, 11 Luvo Sogidashe, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Junior Bester, 7 Wendall Wehr, 6 Zolani Mofu, 5 Rito Hlungwane, 4 Frikkie Spies, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Conrad Burke (captain), 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Clemen Lewis, 17 Jané du Toit, 18 Grant le Roux, 19 Carel Hoffman, 20 Angelo Brinkhuys, 21 Mark Harris, 22 Hein Myburgh.
Leopards: 15 Russell Jeacocks, 14 Colin Lloyd, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Japie Nel, 11 Bom Samaai, 10 Clayton Durand, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Christo van Niekerk, 7 RW Kember, 6 Wilhelm Koch (captain), 5 Ligtoring Landman, 4 Anthonie Gronum, 3 Os van der Walt, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Nardus Lombard.
Replacements: 16 Pellow van der Westhuizen, 17 Philip Lemmer, 18 Draad Linde, 19 Bennie Adams, 20 Theo van Wyk, 21 Jovan Bowles, 22 Jan van Zyl.
Date: Friday, July 10
Venue: Boland Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 15.30 (13.30 GMT)
Referee: Pro Legoete
Assistant referees: Gareth Lloyd-Jones, Archie Sehlako
Assessor: Keith Hendricks