Du Plessis fit for Sharks in Currie Cup final

Prop Jannie du Plessis has been declared fit and will start the Currie Cup final as part of three changes for the clash against Western Province at Newlands on Saturday.

The Springbok prop had been battling with a hand injury that forced him to miss the semi-final win over the Free State Cheetahs last week and was given extra time to recover in a bid to make the team.

His availability, along with that of Tendai Mtawarira, who was a late withdrawal from the semi-final win, means the Sharks will have their all-Bok front trio in position, with Wiehahn Herbst and Dale Chadwick making way.

The third change sees the inclusion of flanker Willem Alberts for his first appearance of the season at the expense of Jean Deysel — the latter failing to recover from a hamstring injury sustained against the Cheetahs.

“At this stage of the season, you can’t make too many changes, it’s mainly about fine-tuning and making sure you go down there with a lot of energy,” Sharks coach Brad Macleod-Henderson said.

The Sharks are underdogs for the clash after losing both of their regular season encounters against the Capetonians this season.

“We’re looking forward to it and won’t be changing too many things,” Macleod-Henderson added.

“As we saw in that last pool game, we came close to getting the victory and hopefully on Saturday we can take it one step further.”

Sharks

SP Marais, Odwa Ndungane, Louis Ludik, Francois Steyn, Lwazi Mvovo, Patrick Lambie, Charl McLeod, Keegan Daniel (captain), Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Peet Marais, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements: Kyle Cooper, Wiehahn Herbst, Stephan Lewies, Jacques Botes, Cobus Reinach, Fred Zeilinga, Heimar Williams.