Marius Joubert back for The Sharks this weekend
Sharks coach John Plumtree has made a couple of changes to the side that beat the Pumas for Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup showdown with the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
Stefan Terblanche will start at fullback with Marius Joubert recalled to the side to play at outside centre in the only change to the backline, while two enforced changes and one rotational change have been made amongst the forwards.
Marcell Coetzee, having started all nine matches to date, earns a deserved break with Jacques Botes replacing him at flank. Alistair Hargreaves will have a new lock partner in Anton Bresler after Ross Skeate fractured his nose last week. Eugene van Staden starts at tighthead with Julian Redelinghuys coming onto the substitutes’ bench for Wiehahn Herbst while Jacques-Louis Potgieter drops out to accommodate Ludik on the bench.
“We’ve brought Marius Joubert back in, he’s been out for three weeks now and I just think it’s a good opportunity now with the run-in to the finals to see how he goes,” explained coach John Plumtree. “Stef is at fullback because a long kicking game is going to be important in Bloemfontein.
“Eugene comes in at tighthead because Wiehahn Herbst has a problem with his hip and Jacques Botes starts – I need his experience – and he’s been playing really well off the bench so I’m giving him an opportunity this week.”
Commenting on the game and the need for both teams to get points out of the match, and with Free State having drawn last week, they will be doubly pressured.
“It’s a home game for Free State and you want to win your home games,” he added. “We just want to go there and express ourselves, we haven’t played well away from home at times this year so we’re really looking forward to this game, it’s going to be a real challenge. We’ve talked long and hard about making sure how we practice this week is how we go out and perform on Saturday.”
The Sharks
15. Stefan Terblanche
14. Sibusiso Sithole
13. Marius Joubert
12. Meyer Bosman
11. Lwazi Mvovo
10. Frederic Michalak
9. Conrad Hoffmann
8. Keegan Daniel (Captain)
7. Jean Deysel
6. Jacques Botes
5. Alistair Hargreaves
4. Anton Bresler
3. Eugene van Staden
2. Craig Burden
1. Dale Chadwick
Replacements
16. Kyle Cooper
17. Julian Redelinghuys
18. Jan Andre Marais
19. Marcell Coetzee
20. Ross Cronje
21. Adrian Jacobs
22. Louis Ludik
(www.sharksrugby.co.za)
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