Currie Cup final: Western Province vs Sharks – Teams, kick off and live stream

For live score updates from the Currie Cup final, check out our updates over here.

The Currie Cup final takes centre stage on Saturday as Western Province square off against the Sharks at Newlands in a second consecutive final between these two sides.

These two sides locked horns in the same stage last year, with the final played in Durban, and it was the visitors on the day who prevailed, fighting back to emerge 33-21 victors and claiming their fifth title since the turn of the century.

The defending champions will be looking to claim a second successive on the bounce, but will have been battered and bruised after a marathon encounter with the Blue Bulls in the last four had to be decided with the intervention of extra time.

Currie Cup final: What the teams are saying

While minimal tweaks have been made to the side which did the job against the men from Pretoria, Western Province have been boosted by the return of two Springboks, Sikhumbuzo Notshe and Jano Vermaak from, who both slot in the starting line-up, while Damian Willemse shifts from flyhalf to the unfamiliar position of inside centre.

Coach John Dobson explained the surprise move;

“I would be lying to you if I had to say this wasn’t planned. He played 45 minutes at 12 last week, because of extra time,” he said.

“I think we would’ve been more at risk if… It has been made clear that his international future is at fullback.

“It is a lot to ask a guy to boss the game, with the rush defence, at 10. At 12, you go flat-out the whole time. Josh (Stander) has a lot of experience, and the team feel comfortable. Damian and our centres were taking it to the line (vs the Blue Bulls), and the only ball we got to the back was with SP’s (Marais) try.”

For the Sharks, revenge will surely be on the agenda after what would have been a first Currie Cup title since the two sides contested the final in 2013 was snatched from them in front of their home crowd.

The men from Durban were dominant from the get-go against the Lions in the semi-finals, and had created enough daylight between them and their opponents to successfully stave off a spirited second-half performance from the men from the Highveld.

The Sharks welcome Jean-Luc du Preez back in the starting line-up, in one of two changes, the other one being in the backline where the exciting Aphelele Fassi replaces the concussed Lwazi Mvovo.

Watch: Aphelele Fassi chases down Aphiwe Dyantyi

Currie Cup final kick off time and how to watch

Kick off is at 16:00 (SAST) and you can watch the action live on SuperSport 1 – but you’ll need a subscription. The match will also be shown “delayed” on SABC 2 at 18:00.

Western Province vs Sharks: Teams

WP: 15 Dillyn Leyds 14 Sergeal Petersen 13 Ruhan Nel 12 Damian Willemse 11 SP Marais 10 Josh Stander 9 Jano Vermaak 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe 7 Ernst van Rhyn 6 Kobus van Dyk 5 JD Schickerling 4 Chris van Zyl (captain) 3 Wilco Louw 2 Bongi Mbonambi 1 Alistair Vermaak.

Substitutes: 16 Scarra Ntubeni 17 Caylib Oosthuizen 18 Michael Kumbirai 19 Salmaan Moerat 20 Jaco Coetzee 21 Herschel Jantjies 22 Dan Kriel 23 JJ Engelbrecht.

Sharks: 15 Curwin Bosch 14 Sbu Nkosi 13 Jeremy Ward 12 Marius Louw 11 Aphelele Fassi 10 Robert du Preez 9 Louis Schreuder (captain) 8 Daniel du Preez 7 Jean-Luc du Preez 6 Tyler Paul 5 Hyron Andrews 4 Gideon Koegelenberg 3 Thomas du Toit 2 Akker van der Merwe 1 Juan Schoeman.

Substitutes: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle 17 Mzamo Majola 18 Coenie Oosthuizen 19 Jacques Vermeulen 20 Luke Stringer 21 Cameron Wright 22 Kobus van Wyk 23 Leolin Zas