Sharks call up Kankowski

Durban - Sharks coach John Plumtree has opted not to rush his returning Springboks back into the starting line-up for Saturday's Currie Cup match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, with just Ryan Kankowski being brought into the No 8 berth.

Ulster-bound Ruan Pienaar and Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira were also both released by the Boks this past week, but have only been named on the bench as Plumtree opts for continuity in combinations.

The backline remains largely unchanged, with Steve Meyer returning to flyhalf after he was forced to play off the bench last weekend after rolling an ankle.

In the loose trio, Kankowski replaces in-form Keegan Daniel at No 8, but the latter will revert to a familiar position on the flank alongside Jacques Botes.

Meanwhile, lock Alistair Hargreaves has been ruled out with a calf strain and new recruit Ross Skeate will earn his first start alongside Steven Sykes in the second row.

Despite the availability of fit-again ball carriers such as Willem Alberts and Jean Deysel, they have only been named on a powerful bench that has a 5-2 forward to backs split.

The match kicks off at 15:00 and will be refereed by Mark Lawrence.

Teams:

Free State Cheetahs:
15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Philip Snyman, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Corné Uys, 11. Jongi Nokwe, 10. Louis Strydom, 9. Tewis de Bruyn, 8. Ashley Johnson, 7. Juan Smith (captain), 6. Hendro Scholtz, 5. Barend Pieterse, 4. Izak van der Westhuizen, 3. Willem Petrus Nel, 2. Adriaan Strauss, 1. Coenie Oosthuizen

Replacements: 16. Skipper Badenhorst, 17. CJ van der Linde, 18. Waltie Vermeulen, 19. Kabamba Floors, 20. Tertius Carse, 21. Sias Ebersohn, 22. Meyer Bosman

Sharks:
15. Louis Ludik, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Stefan Terblanche (captain), 12. Patrick Lambie, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Steve Meyer, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Keegan Daniel, 6. Jacques Botes, 5. Ross Skeate, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 2. Craig Burden, 1. Patric Cilliers

Replacements: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Tendai Mtawarira, 18. Eugene van Staden, 19. Willem Alberts, 20. Jean Deysel, 21. Ruan Pienaar, 22. Andries Strauss