Further evidence has been provided that the Currie Cup continues to morph into a Super Rugby ‘development competition’ after Western Province coach John Dobson selected six under-21s in his team to face the Blue Bulls on Friday. For the second half of the 20th century the north/south derby was the litmus test for the health of South African rugby.Now it’s just another game in an overcrowded schedule. Since the onset of professionalism in 1996‚ the Currie Cup has been fighting for its place in an increasingly crowded Super Rugby and Test schedule. While the tournament is the oldest contested competition in the world‚ it has long ceased to be the pinnacle of the game in SA and with each passing year its status is further eroded. Dobson has still selected a strong team‚ using Super Rugby experience as a measurement‚ but the tournament has a paucity of truly world-class players. Wings Leolin Zas and Khanyo Ngcukana‚ centre Daniel du Plessis‚ looseforward Jacques Vermeulen‚ lock JD Schickerling and utility replacement back Brandon Thomson‚ are all still eligible for the under-21 team. In the backline‚ Zas and Ngcukana will link up with fullback Scott van Breda‚ whilst Du Plessis partners Huw Jones in midfield‚ with flyhalf Robert du Preez and experienced vice-captain Jano Vermaak forming the halfback pairing. Vermeulen starts at No 8 to form an imposing loose trio with flanks Jurie van Vuuren and Rynhardt Elstadt.Schickerling is in the second row alongside captain Chris Van Zyl‚ and tighthead prop Wilco Louw links up with Scarra Ntubeni and Alistair Vermaak in the front row. "This team certainly does not lack talent or enthusiasm‚ and although we have not had a lot of time together as a group‚ we are excited about taking on this challenge‚" Dobson said. Dobson added that he expects the senior players in the team to play a big role in what will be a testing start to their campaign. "It is a relatively young side‚ but we have got experienced players in key positions and they will hopefully provide some guidance for the considerable young talent we will have out there‚" he said.In Durban new Sharks Currie Cup coach Robert du Preez took a similar approach for his team’s clash with the Pumas by selecting a handful of youngsters. SA under-20 flyhalf Curwin Bosch will start in the No 10 jersey with 2015 SA under-20 player Inny Radebe providing cover from the bench. Kings and SA ‘A’ utility back Lukhanyo Am has made the move to Durban and will start outside centre with under-21 Neil Marais making his debut on the wing. The Sharks pack does have some experience with flank Keegan Daniel leading the team. “We’re blessed with having the same pack of forwards basically and that should give us great confidence‚” Du Preez said. “We do have a couple of guys coming into the backline‚ with the Boks being out‚ but I am very positive about what’s lying ahead.” Western Province: 15 Scott van Breda‚ 14 Khanyo Ngcukana‚ 13 Huw Jones‚ 12 Daniel du Plessis‚ 11 Leolin Zas‚ 10 Robert du Preez‚ 9 Jano Vermaak‚ 8 Jacques Vermeulen‚ 7 Jurie van Vuuren‚ 6 Rynhardt Elstadt‚ 5 Chris van Zyl (captain)‚ 4 JD Schickerling‚ 3 Wilco Louw‚ 2 Scarra Ntubeni‚ 1 Alistair Vermaak. Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon‚ 17 Oli Kebble‚ 18 JP Smith‚ 19 Kobus van Dyk‚ 20 Godlen Masimla‚ 21 Brandon Thomson‚ 22 Johnny Kotze. Sharks: 15 Odwa Ndungane‚ 14 Neil Maritz‚ 13 Lukhanyo Am‚ 12 Andre Esterhuizen‚ 11 Sibusiso Sithole‚ 10 Curwin Bosch‚ 9 Michael Claassens‚ 8 Philip van der Walt‚ 7 Jean-Luc du Preez‚ 6 Keegan Daniel (captain)‚ 5 Stephan Lewies‚ 4 Etienne Oosthuizen‚ 3 Lourens Adriaanse‚ 2 Franco Marais‚ 1 Dale Chadwick. Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle‚ 17 Thomas du Toit‚ 18 Ruan Botha‚ 19 Tera Mtembu‚ 20 Stefan Ungerer‚ 21 Inny Radebe‚ 22 Heimar Williams. ..