DHL Western Province have reloaded their Currie Cup arsenal with two freshly minted Junior Springbok world champions, ready to charge into the Toyota Cheetahs’ lair in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Blindside bruiser Riley Norton and midfield magician Gino Cupido step straight into the starting XV, their youth and pedigree adding the zip of a backline dummy and the thud of a crunching tackle to Province’s game plan.
Norton makes his senior debut alongside Gideon van Wyk, replacing the injured Zain Davids, while Cupido teams up with Damian Markus in the midfield trenches.
On the left wing, Joel Leotlela forms part of a jet-fuelled back three with Blitzbok flyers Shilton van Wyk and Tristan Leyds. The trio have the ability to turn half-chances into scoreboard stings.
In the engine room, captaincy shifts to lock Gary Porter, anchoring an unchanged tight five, while hooker Luca Bakkes and loose forward Enos Ndiao wait on the bench like impact subs itching to break the line.
Out wide, Joel Leotlela links up with Blitzbok rockets Shilton van Wyk and Tristan Leyds to form an exciting back three so quick, they could probably finish their warm-up sprints in Kimberley and still get to kick off on time.
In the pack, Gary Porter swaps his lock duties for the captain’s armband after Davids’ injury. The tight five stays unchanged, which means the scrum should still resemble a small natural disaster for the opposition.
Meanwhile, hooker Luca Bakkes and loose forward Enos Ndiao will be licking their lips on the bench, ready to come on and cause the rugby equivalent of a late-night bar fight.
Our team for the Carling Currie Cup clash against the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
📢 team announcement https://t.co/259Y4rh3Jt#wpjoulekkerding pic.twitter.com/5rPY3dyZLH
— WP RUGBY (@WP_RUGBY) August 15, 2025
Head coach Labeeb Levy knows exactly what they’re in for:
“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 one we are embracing. We will need to be on our game from the first to the last whistle to get the result we need.”
In other words: no slow starts, no brain fades, and definitely no giving the Cheetahs any room to stretch their legs. Because in Bloemfontein, once they start running, you’ll only catch them again at the post-match handshake.
But in the other change room, Toyota Cheetahs coach Frans Steyn is playing the long game. The double World Cup winner has seen more rugby battles than a Springbok kit man, and he knows exactly how dangerous this stretch of fixtures will be.
“I think we’re heading into a block where it is really important for us to play well, and to take the points we can.
“We need to play well this weekend, build on our mistakes and performance from last week, and gain momentum,” said Steyn.
Steyn isn’t sugar-coating the road ahead either:
“The next three weeks will be tough for the Toyota Cheetahs, but we are taking it one week at a time through hard work. We’re busy building a good squad. We have a couple of great youngsters in the team with a high work rate, and all the players’ hard work is commendable.”
His players are just as aware of the incoming aerial bombardment from Province’s backline.
Utility back Marco Janse van Vuren summed it up:
“We’ve had a good prep this week, and we know that they are going to run the ball, so we are awake and prepared to expect anything. Our performance against the Sharks wasn’t great, but we are now looking forward to playing on our home ground.”
Line-ups for Saturday’s Currie Cup clash in Bloemfontein
Toyota Cheetahs:
1 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 4 Juan Venter, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 7 Mihlali Mosi, 8 Neels Volschenk, 9 Rewan Kruger, 10 Franco Smith, 11 Cohen Jasper, 12 Ali Mgjijima, 13 Marco Janse van Vuren, 14 Banie Britz, 15 James Verity-Amm
Replacements: 16 Marko Jansen van Rensburg, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Frankie Dos Reis, 19 Thabang Mahlasi, 20 Sasko Ndlovu, 21 Jandre Nel, 22 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 23 Clayton Blommetjies
DHL 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
DHL 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.
Match Officials
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant Referees: Sean Muller, Daniel Canhenga
TMO: Cwengile Jadezweni
