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Kimberley - An injury to star scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius means that the Sharks Academy's Shannon Rick will get the opportunity to make his mark for Griquas in their friendly match against the Border Bulldogs in East London on Friday night.
Rick, who is on trial at Griquas, was initially picked on the substitutes bench. However, Pretorius's withdrawal with a knee injury means that he will get a chance to impress Griquas coach Abré Minnie straight away.
Griquas are looking to expand their depth at scrumhalf as Jandré Blom was only available for the Vodacom Cup after being loaned from the SWD Eagles.
"Sarel is struggling with a minor knee injury and we withdrew him from the compulsory friendly as a precautionary measure. He should be available for our first Currie Cup game against Western Province. Matt Rosslee will take Shannon's place on the substitutes bench," said Minnie.
Pretorius's absence means that Griquas will travel to East London with eight Super Rugby players for a match that could prove a tough one for the home side.
With the exception of Earl Rose, who is not being considered due to his recent involvement with the Stormers, the 22-man squad with which Griquas will take on the Bulldogs is close to their strongest side.
Loose forwards Wesley Wilkins and Leon Karemaker are also still injured.
"It's not necessarily our aim to field the strongest possible run-on side. We rather want to see how the players fit into the structures. All our combinations - from the tight five, the loose-trio, halfback pairing and our back three - have not played together at all this year," said Minnie.
The Bulldogs' forward onslaught will be led by lock Antonie Gronum, but it's doubtful whether they will be able to contain a Griquas pack with heavyweights like Hendrik Roodt and Lourens Adriaanse.
The home side has an experienced campaigner in captain and centre Chumani Booi, but it's unlikely that he will be capable of overshadowing Super Rugby stars such as Griquas fullback Riaan Viljoen and centre Barry Geel.
Teams:
Bulldogs: 15 Ntabeni Dukisa, 14 Frans Laatz, 13 Byron McGuigan, 12 Chumani Booi (capt), 11 Vuyo Mboto, 10 Dale Sabbagh, 9 Yongama Mkaza, 8 Roy Bursey, 7 Luthando Mkwelo , 6 Ben Venter, 5 Antonie Gronum, 4 Samora Fihlani, 3 Renier Schoeman, 2 Pierre Bouwer, 1 Byron Schmidt. Substitutes: 16 Matthew Taljard, 17 Armon Fourie, 18 Nomani Tonga, 19 Shane Spring, 20 Ntando Kebe, 21 Tembani Mkokeli, 22 Luvuyo Mhlobiso.
Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Richard Lawson, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Fabian Juries, 10 Monty Dumond, 9 Shannon Rick, 8 Jonathan Mokuena (capt), 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Justin Downey, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Steph Roberts. Substitutes: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Jean Botha, 18 Frikkie Spies, 19 Jaco Nepgen, 20 Matt Rosslee, 21 Jean Stemmet, 22 Rudi Vogt.
Referee: Sindile Mayende.
Kick-off: 19:00.
Kimberley - An injury to star scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius means that the Sharks Academy's Shannon Rick will get the opportunity to make his mark for Griquas in their friendly match against the Border Bulldogs in East London on Friday night.
Rick, who is on trial at Griquas, was initially picked on the substitutes bench. However, Pretorius's withdrawal with a knee injury means that he will get a chance to impress Griquas coach Abré Minnie straight away.
Griquas are looking to expand their depth at scrumhalf as Jandré Blom was only available for the Vodacom Cup after being loaned from the SWD Eagles.
"Sarel is struggling with a minor knee injury and we withdrew him from the compulsory friendly as a precautionary measure. He should be available for our first Currie Cup game against Western Province. Matt Rosslee will take Shannon's place on the substitutes bench," said Minnie.
Pretorius's absence means that Griquas will travel to East London with eight Super Rugby players for a match that could prove a tough one for the home side.
With the exception of Earl Rose, who is not being considered due to his recent involvement with the Stormers, the 22-man squad with which Griquas will take on the Bulldogs is close to their strongest side.
Loose forwards Wesley Wilkins and Leon Karemaker are also still injured.
"It's not necessarily our aim to field the strongest possible run-on side. We rather want to see how the players fit into the structures. All our combinations - from the tight five, the loose-trio, halfback pairing and our back three - have not played together at all this year," said Minnie.
The Bulldogs' forward onslaught will be led by lock Antonie Gronum, but it's doubtful whether they will be able to contain a Griquas pack with heavyweights like Hendrik Roodt and Lourens Adriaanse.
The home side has an experienced campaigner in captain and centre Chumani Booi, but it's unlikely that he will be capable of overshadowing Super Rugby stars such as Griquas fullback Riaan Viljoen and centre Barry Geel.
Teams:
Bulldogs: 15 Ntabeni Dukisa, 14 Frans Laatz, 13 Byron McGuigan, 12 Chumani Booi (capt), 11 Vuyo Mboto, 10 Dale Sabbagh, 9 Yongama Mkaza, 8 Roy Bursey, 7 Luthando Mkwelo , 6 Ben Venter, 5 Antonie Gronum, 4 Samora Fihlani, 3 Renier Schoeman, 2 Pierre Bouwer, 1 Byron Schmidt. Substitutes: 16 Matthew Taljard, 17 Armon Fourie, 18 Nomani Tonga, 19 Shane Spring, 20 Ntando Kebe, 21 Tembani Mkokeli, 22 Luvuyo Mhlobiso.
Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Richard Lawson, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Fabian Juries, 10 Monty Dumond, 9 Shannon Rick, 8 Jonathan Mokuena (capt), 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Justin Downey, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Steph Roberts. Substitutes: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Jean Botha, 18 Frikkie Spies, 19 Jaco Nepgen, 20 Matt Rosslee, 21 Jean Stemmet, 22 Rudi Vogt.
Referee: Sindile Mayende.
Kick-off: 19:00.
