Free State Cheetahs vs. Cell C Sharks

Jul 19 • General News • 1318 Views • Comments Off on Free State Cheetahs vs. Cell C Sharks

Date	: Friday, 21 July 2017
Time	: 19h00
Venue	: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee	: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant Referees	: Jaco Pretorius, Jaco Kotze
Television Match Official	: JJ Wagner

Keegan Daniel captains a Cell C Sharks side filled with experience and a strong blend of youth for our opening Currie Cup clash against the Free State Cheetahs on Friday night in Bloemfontein.

With our senior team playing the Vodacom Super Rugby quarter-final match against the Lions in Johannesburg the following day, this Currie Cup team will therefore not feature a number of frontline players for this opening match of the tournament. This scenario creates an ideal opportunity to test the depth we have in our squad and the youngsters will need to make the step-up.
Daniel’s experience, as well as versatility, makes him the ideal leader for this side that is very well-balanced.

Odwa Ndungane on the wing and S’bura Sithole at outside center will be called on to rally the young backline and provide calmness and leadership.

Daniel will also call for fellow loose-forwards Jacques Vermeulen and Khaya Majola to lead by example, both of who have represented the Cell C Sharks on numerous occasions.

New signings Tyler Paul and Ross Geldenhuys, who both played Super Rugby for the Kings, have been named to the team. Geldenhuys has signed a one year contract with the Cell C Sharks and will bring massive experience to the front row for this match.

Getting their campaign off to a successful start will be paramount in the minds of the players for Friday night’s 7 pm kick off at Free State Stadium.

The Cheetahs may be out of Super Rugby, but they will look to put that disappointment behind them and use motivation from a successful 2016 Currie Cup campaign when they went the entire season unbeaten before comprehensively defeating the Blue Bulls in the final.

Most of the players named in this week’s team have played together in the Supersport Rugby Challenge and continuity for the Cell C Sharks as far as playing personnel go will count in their favor, as will a burning desire to perform with distinction and success.

1.            Mzamo Majola
2.            Kieron van Vuuren
3.            Ross Geldenhuys
4.            Wian Vosloo
5.            Hyron Andrews
6.            Khaya Majola
7.            Jacques Vermeulen
8.            Keegan Daniel (c)
9.            Rowan Gouws
10.          Benhard Janse van Rensburg
11.          Illunga Mukendi
12.          Marius Louw
13.          S’bura Sithole
14.          Odwa Ndungane
15.          Courtney Winnaar

Replacements
16.          Andrew du Plessis
17.          Thierry Kounga
18.          Tyler Paul
19.          Bandisa Ndlovu
20.          Cameron Wright
21.          Brandan Bailing
22.          Inny Radebe