Sharks name Currie Cup side to play Griquas

The Sharks will want to make sure their first home Currie Cup match of this season is a success when they host Griquas at Kings Park on Friday evening in a match they know they must win.

While there was plenty of motivation for last week’s clash against the Pumas to right the wrongs of defeat in 2015, there will be no such ‘revenge’ this week against Griquas.

Last year the Sharks registered a sound 45-20 victory in Kimberley in the latter stages of the season but will be motivated by other factors.

There was evidence of an exciting, attacking style of rugby, played at a high pace, and this week will see coach Robert du Preez exhort his players to continue and improve.

As they are playing at home this presents the twin motive to both win at home and make Kings Park a fortress, as well as to play a style that attracts the fans to come out and support their team.

There have been a couple of changes from the team that defeated the Pumas 33-10 last week for this Friday night’s showdown in Durban.

With Lourens Adriaanse gaining selection this week to the Springbok squad ahead of the Rugby Championship, Thomas du Toit gets a start at tighthead prop and will look to deliver the scrummaging power of the man he replaces as well as his own brand of power play with ball in hand where he has proved an exciting prospect.

Etienne Oosthuizen and Stephan Lewis have built up a formidable partnership this season in the second row and having locked together for most of the year, bring great continuity in the tight five.

Jean-Luc du Preez is carrying a slight niggle and will miss this match. He is replaced in the starting line-up by Tera Mtembu who will play at eighthman with Philip van Walt moving to the right flank.

The loose-trio will continue an outstanding back row that combines aggression, physicality and mobility, which played a big role in last week’s emphatic win.

Inny Radebe will start in the No 10 jersey after playing there off the bench last week and delivering an exciting attacking option, while last week’s starter, another exciting young player, Curwin Bosch, shifts to the fullback position with the rest of the backline remaining intact.

Dale Chadwick will earn his 50th Currie Cup cap for the Sharks.

Match Officials
Referee: Jaco van Heerden
Assistant Referees: Stephan Berndt, Ricus van der Hoven
TMO: Marius Jonker.

Sharks

15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Neil Maritz, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 S’bura Sithole, 10 Inny Radebe, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Tera Mthembu, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Keegan Daniel (c), 5 Stephen Lewis, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Dale Chadwick

Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 John Hubert Meyer, 18 Ruan Botha, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Michael Claassens, 21 Heimar Williams / Odwa Ndungane, 22 Rhyno Smith