Gio Aplon, who has turned down an opportunity to travel with the South African Sevens team to the World Games in Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei, has been named at fullback in the Western Province team for their big north-south Currie Cup derby against the Blue Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

Aplon, a key member of the Springbok team that won the International Rugby Board World Sevens Series title at the end of May, replaced the injured Joe Pietersen at fullback.

Province coach Allister Coetzee made only one other change to his starting XV - with Dewaldt Duvenage at scrumhalf in place of Ricky Januarie, who has been taken up in Peter de Villiers' Springbok squad.

The other noteworthy sidebar to this derby is Province left wing Frikkie Welsh, a former Blue Bulls player.

Welsh said he is looking forward to returning to Loftus, where he hopes to put in an improved performance.

After last week's opening round of Currie Cup fixtures, both the Blue Bulls and Province are unbeaten.

Coetzee said the Blue Bulls will offer formidable opposition, because their team had excellent systems and structures in place.

Western Province: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Frikkie Welsh, 13 Morgan Newman, 12 Peter Grant, 11 Sireli Naqelevuki, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Luke Watson (captain), 7 Pieter Louw, 6 Pieter Myburgh, 5 Anton van Zyl, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Hanyani Shimange, 17 JD Moller, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Deon Fourie, 20 Conrad Hoffmann, 21 Juan De Jongh, 22 Tonderai Chavhanga.

Date: Saturday, July 18
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Mark Lawrence
Assistant referees: Tiaan Jonker/Lourens van der Merwe, Christie du Preez
TMO: Johann Meuwesen

365

Algarve vs Garden Route Despite Kirsty Coventry's heroics, Zimbabweans aren't natural swimmers, writes Dan Nicholl.

Fabian ready to step up Fabian Juries is coy on his Bok prospects after his electrifying displays in the Currie Cup.

A familiar feeling... Was Sunday's defeat to England a repeat performance from cricket's ultimate chokers?