Rookie centre gets Sharks starting role

Durban - Centre Tristan Blewett will make his run-on debut for the Sharks in Friday’s Currie Cup clash against the Golden Lions at Kings Park.

Blewett replaces Jeremy Ward who sustained a collar bone injury in last weekend’s 18-5 victory over the Blue Bulls in Durban.

Inny Radebe returns to the match-day squad to take Blewett’s spot on the bench.

The only other change sees Franco Marais coming in for Chiliboy Ralepelle, with Akker van der Merwe playing back-up at hooker.

Sibusiso Nkosi and Dan du Preez, who were released on Tuesday from the Springbok training squad ahead of Saturday's Rugby Championship clash against the Wallabies in Bloemfontein, will both start Friday's match.

Kick-off for Friday’s clash is scheduled for 19:15.

Teams:

Sharks

15 Garth April, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Tristan Blewett, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Sibusiso Nkosi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Ruan Botha (captain), 4 Tyler Paul, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Thomas du Toit

Substitutes: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Jean Droste, 19 Tera Mtembu, 20 Cameron Wright, 21 Inny Radebe, 22 Rhyno Smith

Golden Lions

15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Harold Vorster, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 8 Fabian Booysen, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen (captain)

Substitutes: 16 Sti Sithole, 17 Pieter Jansen, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Len Massyn, 21 Bradley Thain, 22 Anthony Volmink/Stokkies Hanekom