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Durban - The Sharks host the Pumas in their second round Absa Currie Cup match in Durban on Saturday (kick-off at 15:00) with minimal changes to the side that beat the Blue Bulls last week.
According to Sharks website editor Michael Marnewick, with the emphasis on lightening the load on defence (and suffering the consequences of it down the line), The Sharks are looking to up the tempo on attack and enjoy the fruits of some hard work.
“We’re trying to grow our attack and have done quite a bit of work on it this week,” explains coach John Plumtree.
“We have a lot of respect for this Pumas side, they’ve certainly played really well all year but right now, we’re not talking about the Pumas, we’re trying to talk about what we want to do and that’s very important. We just want to focus on getting a win, I’m sure they’ll want to do the same.”
As announced earlier in the week Charl McLeod is out injured but everyone else is fit. “Eugene van Staden and Jean Deysel are both okay to play although Wiehahn Herbst will start at tighthead with Eugene carrying an injury concern after the Bulls game,” the Sharks coach confirms.
Alistair Hargreaves and Ross Skeate will start in the second row, the first time the two have been named in the starting XV this campaign.
“It’s one of the few opportunities to play Ross and Alistair together at the same time, I want to give those guys a start and see how they play together obviously with an eye to looking forward to Super Rugby and see how they combine as a partnership.”
A slight rejig of the loose forward trio sees Keegan Daniel reverting to eighthman and Jean Deysel starting on the flank while the loss of Charl McLeod to injury sees Conrad Hoffmann starting with Ross Cronje recalled to the side as scrumhalf back-up after helping College Rovers secure the Castle Murray Cup this past weekend.
There are no further changes to the backline. On the bench, Plumtree has reverted back to a 4:3 split with Jan Andre Marais dropping out and Jacques-Louis Potgieter added to the backline reinforcements.
The Sharks coach has reiterated his call to Sharks fans to come out in support of the team. “It’s a daytime game when conditions at this time of the year are always good, so it’s a nice opportunity for a big crowd to come out and watch the game and braai afterwards.”
Teams:
Sharks:
15. Louis Ludik, 14. Sibusiso Sithole, 13. Stefan Terblanche, 12. Meyer Bosman, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Frederic Michalak, 9. Conrad Hoffmann, 8. Keegan Daniel (captain), 7. Marcell Coetzee, 6. Jean Deysel, 5. Ross Skeate, 4. Alistair Hargreaves, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 2. Craig Burden, 1. Dale Chadwick
Substitutes: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Eugene van Staden, 18. Anton Bresler, 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Ross Cronje, 21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22. Adrian Jacobs
Pumas:
TBA
* Click HERE for the latest Currie Cup odds on BET.CO.ZA
According to Sharks website editor Michael Marnewick, with the emphasis on lightening the load on defence (and suffering the consequences of it down the line), The Sharks are looking to up the tempo on attack and enjoy the fruits of some hard work.
“We’re trying to grow our attack and have done quite a bit of work on it this week,” explains coach John Plumtree.
“We have a lot of respect for this Pumas side, they’ve certainly played really well all year but right now, we’re not talking about the Pumas, we’re trying to talk about what we want to do and that’s very important. We just want to focus on getting a win, I’m sure they’ll want to do the same.”
As announced earlier in the week Charl McLeod is out injured but everyone else is fit. “Eugene van Staden and Jean Deysel are both okay to play although Wiehahn Herbst will start at tighthead with Eugene carrying an injury concern after the Bulls game,” the Sharks coach confirms.
Alistair Hargreaves and Ross Skeate will start in the second row, the first time the two have been named in the starting XV this campaign.
“It’s one of the few opportunities to play Ross and Alistair together at the same time, I want to give those guys a start and see how they play together obviously with an eye to looking forward to Super Rugby and see how they combine as a partnership.”
A slight rejig of the loose forward trio sees Keegan Daniel reverting to eighthman and Jean Deysel starting on the flank while the loss of Charl McLeod to injury sees Conrad Hoffmann starting with Ross Cronje recalled to the side as scrumhalf back-up after helping College Rovers secure the Castle Murray Cup this past weekend.
There are no further changes to the backline. On the bench, Plumtree has reverted back to a 4:3 split with Jan Andre Marais dropping out and Jacques-Louis Potgieter added to the backline reinforcements.
The Sharks coach has reiterated his call to Sharks fans to come out in support of the team. “It’s a daytime game when conditions at this time of the year are always good, so it’s a nice opportunity for a big crowd to come out and watch the game and braai afterwards.”
Teams:
Sharks:
15. Louis Ludik, 14. Sibusiso Sithole, 13. Stefan Terblanche, 12. Meyer Bosman, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Frederic Michalak, 9. Conrad Hoffmann, 8. Keegan Daniel (captain), 7. Marcell Coetzee, 6. Jean Deysel, 5. Ross Skeate, 4. Alistair Hargreaves, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 2. Craig Burden, 1. Dale Chadwick
Substitutes: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Eugene van Staden, 18. Anton Bresler, 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Ross Cronje, 21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22. Adrian Jacobs
Pumas:
TBA
* Click HERE for the latest Currie Cup odds on BET.CO.ZA
