Joubert back for Sharks

Durban - Marius Joubert has returned to the Sharks team for the first time in three weeks and is included in one of four changes made by coach John Plumtree for Saturday's Absa Currie Cup clash against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

"We’ve brought Marius Joubert back in after he’s been out for three weeks now," said Plumtree.

"I just think it’s a good opportunity now with the run-in to the finals to see how he goes."

The midfielder was excluded recently after Plumtree said Joubert's conditioning was not up to scratch following his move from French club Clermont Auvergne.

Joubert is named as outside centre with Stefan Terblanche shifting to fullback while Louis Ludik has to make way.

Among the forwards, injuries to Ross Skeate (broken nose) and Wiehahn Herbst (hip) mean Anton Bresler and Eugene van Staden are named at lock and tighthead prop, respectively.

The other changes to the side are rotational and Jacques Botes plays ahead of Marcell Coetzee, who has featured in every game so far in this campaign.

Julian Redelinghuys and Jan Andre Marais come onto the bench.

Teams

Sharks:
15. Stefan Terblanche 14. Sibusiso Sithole 13. Marius Joubert 12. Meyer Bosman 11. Lwazi Mvovo 10. Frederic Michalak 9. Conrad Hoffmann 8. Keegan Daniel (captain) 7. Jean Deysel 6. Jacques Botes 5. Alistair Hargreaves 4. Anton Bresler 3. Eugene van Staden 2. Craig Burden 1. Dale Chadwick

Substitutes: 16. Kyle Cooper 17. Julian Redelinghuys 18. Jan Andre Marais 19. Marcell Coetzee 20. Ross Cronje 21. Adrian Jacobs 22. Louis Ludik

Free State Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Riaan Smit, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Philip Snyman, 11 Cameron Jacobs, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Pieter van Zyl, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Boom Prinsloo, 6 Lappies Labuschagné, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 3 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Marcel van der Merwe

Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Johan Wessels, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Philip Burger