Durban -The release of Springboks Ryan Kankowski and Ashley Johnson to their Unions for the Absa Currie Cup means both John Plumtree and Naka Drotske have added the returning Boks to their teams for this weekend’s round of matches.

Kankowski and Johnson were recalled to the Bok squad early this week to provide cover for Pierre Spies (groin) and Danie Rossouw (gastroenteritis) in the event that the pair would be unavailable for selection for Saturday’s Castle Tri-Nations Test between the Springboks and Wallabies at Mr Price KINGS PARK.

With Spies and Rossouw now having been declared fit for action, Kankowski and Johnson will play a role for The Sharks and Free State Cheetahs in their respective matches against Western Province and the Lions.

According to Sharks website editor, Michael Marnewick, Ryan Kankowski will start in his customary eighthman position with captain Keegan Daniel shifting to the flank, where he will partner Marcell Coetzee, bringing together a dynamic loose forward trio. Jacques Botes will move to the bench, allowing Francois Kleinhans the opportunity to play for the Under 21s who are in action in the earlier game.

The Sharks are well aware of the need to perform well away from home and pick up valuable points (and wins) where they can. Following on from last week’s loss on the road, Friday’s match takes on added importance for The Sharks.

“It was pretty frustrating against Griquas,” explains coach John Plumtree, “because we started so nicely and were building momentum, but when they got yardage on us, we struggled to keep them out. But you have to give Griquas a fair bit of credit, they played some pretty good rugby.

“We knew there would be opportunities, we just were not good enough to expose those opportunities, so it was a frustrating night for us and the players are frustrated as well because we’ve blown an opportunity.

“You have to win games away from home if you want to get a home semi or final. We are certainly disappointed with what happened last week, we have to make up those points. We’re ready to go this week, the players are pretty determined.”

Teams:

Western Province:
15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie (captain), 1 Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Adriaan Fondse, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Berton Klaasen, 22 Marcel Brache

Sharks:
15. Louis Ludik, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Stefan Terblanche, 12. Patrick Lambie, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Frederic Michalak, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Marcell Coetzee, 6. Keegan Daniel (captain), 5. Ross Skeate, 4. Anton Bresler, 3. Eugene van Staden, 2. Craig Burden, 1. Dale Chadwick

Substitutes: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Wiehahn Herbst, 18. Jan Andre Marais, 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Conrad Hoffmann, 21. Adrian Jacobs, 22. Marius Joubert