Cell C Sharks to face DHL Western Province

Oct 25 • Currie Cup, General News • 1491 Views • Comments Off on Cell C Sharks to face DHL Western Province

Date	Saturday, 27 October 2018
Time	16h00
Venue	DHL Newlands, Cape Town
Referee	Jaco Peyper
Assistant Referees	AJ Jacobs, Cwengile Jadezweni
Television Match Official	Shaun Veldsman

The time for dress-rehearsals is over as the 2018 Currie Cup Final between the Cell C Sharks and Western Province at DHL Newlands in Cape Town beckons, for Saturday’s season finale.

It’s been an intriguing season, with Western Province hosting a final thanks to their unbeaten run in the competition. The Cell C Sharks, having finished second, means the final produces a fitting end between the two best-performing sides in the tournament.

Cell C Sharks head coach Robert du Preez has made just two changes to the team that defeated the Lions last week, Tyler Paul shifts into Jacques Vermeulen’s position on the side of the scum, allowing an opening for Jean-Luc du Preez to gain his first start for the Cell C Sharks in this year’s competition.

“It’s the business end of the season, but fortunately we’re in the final again this year and hopefully we can bring the cup home,” the big flank, twin brother of eighthman Daniel, admits.

Having only recently returned from injury, he’s played off the bench in the last couple of games, but after being side-lined for three and a half months, he explains that: “Playing off the bench has been good for me, obviously coming back from a long-term injury, I was gradually eased into action and it’s great to be back!”

The loss to Western Province in the pool stages provided timely lessons which du Preez explains can only be in his team’s favour.

“We can take a lot out of that game, as we can from last week’s game against the Lions. In both matches we didn’t play for a full 80 minutes, we got a bit complacent. We’re focussing on the full 80, or the full 90, if that’s what it takes.”

“The focus is on us right now, not on Western Province, although we know it’s going to be a huge clash. They have a massive pack, we have a big pack too, so it’s the old cliché again: it will all be won upfront. It will be huge. If all eight and the forwards off the bench all put up our hands, it will be good.”

In the other change, Aphelele Fassi replaces Lwazi Mvovo, who was concussed in last week’s match.

Cell C Sharks
15. Curwin Bosch
14. Sbu Nkosi
13. Jeremy Ward
12. Marius Louw
11. Aphelele Fassi
10. Robert du Preez
9. Louis Schreuder (c)
8. Daniel du Preez
7. Jean-Luc du Preez
6. Tyler Paul
5. Hyron Andrews
4. Gideon Koegelenberg
3. Thomas du Toit
2. Akker van der Merwe
1. Juan Schoeman

Replacements
16. Chiliboy Ralepelle
17. Mzamo Majola
18. Coenie Oosthuizen
19. Jacques Vermeulen
20. Luke Stringer
21. Cameron Wright
22. Kobus van Wyk
23. Leolin Zas