Radebe at flyhalf for Sharks

Durban - Sharks coach Robert du Preez has named his team for Friday night’s Currie Cup Premier Division clash against Griquas in Durban.

Du Preez has made a couple of changes from the team that defeated the Pumas 33-10 in Nelspruit last week.

With Lourens Adriaanse gaining selection this week to the Springbok squad ahead of the Rugby  Championship, Thomas du Toit gets a start at tighthead prop and will look to deliver the scrumming power of the man he replaces, as well as his own brand of power play with ball in hand where he has proved an exciting prospect.

Etienne Oosthuizen and Stephan Lewies have built up a formidable partnership this season in the second row and having locked together for most of the year, bring great continuity in the tight five.

Jean-Luc du Preez is carrying a slight niggle and will miss this match. He is replaced in the starting line-up by Tera Mtembu who will play at No 8 with Philip van Walt moving to flank.  The loose-trio will continue an outstanding back row that combines aggression, physicality and mobility, which played a big role in last week’s emphatic win.

Inny Radebe will start in the No 10 jersey after playing there off the bench last week and delivering an exciting attacking option, while last week’s starter, Curwin Bosch, shifts to the fullback position with the rest of the backline remaining intact.

Dale Chadwick will earn his 50th Currie Cup cap for the Sharks.

Kick-off for Friday’s clash is scheduled for 19:10.

Teams:

Sharks

15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Neil Maritz, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 S'bura Sithole, 10 Inny Radebe, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Tera Mtembu, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Keegan Daniel (captain), 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Dale Chadwick
 
Substitutes: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 John-Hubert Meyer, 18 Ruan Botha, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Michael Claassens, 21 Heimar Williams/Odwa Ndungane, 22 Rhyno Smith

Griquas

15 AJ Coertzen, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Johnathan Francke, 11 Alshaun Bock, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Rudi van Rooyen, 8 Jason Fraser, 7 RJ Liebenberg (captain), 6 Wendal Wehr, 5 Jono Janse van Rensburg, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Stephan Kotze, 2 Marius Fourie, 1 Steph Roberts

Substitutes: 16 AJ Le Roux, 17 Devon Martinus, 18 Liam Hendricks, 19 Sias Koen, 20 Stephan Vermeulen, 21 Renier Botha, 22 Elgar Watts