Phakisa Pumas vs. Cell C Sharks

Aug 1 • Currie Cup, General News, National, South Africa • 1575 Views • Comments Off on Phakisa Pumas vs. Cell C Sharks

Date: Saturday, 3rd August 2019
Time: 15h00
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant Referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron, Stephan Geldenhuys
Television Match Official: Christie du Preez

The Cell C Sharks team named to play the Phakisa Pumas in Nelspruit in an important Currie Cup clash on Saturday afternoon is almost entirely unchanged from the team that defeated Western Province in round two.

There’s been a week’s bye, but that only meant a break from playing as the team continued to put in the hard yards on the training field in their quest to maintain the form that provided the foundation for such an important win in round two.

Following up on the result against Western Province with a successive victory will only enhance the reigning champion Cell C Sharks’ efforts to emulate the heroics of the successful 2018 competition when they defeated Western Province in the final at Newlands.

But there is no focus on the outcome, rather the performance and the coaching staff and players have been hard at work over the last week – despite the bye – in preparing for Saturday’s round three match against tricky opposition that has yet to register a win but which deserves plenty of respect.

Head coach of the Cell C Sharks Sean Everitt has, like the last match, kept the side together and again has made just one change, this time amongst the forwards where Phepsi Buthelezi will start at flank with Jacques Vermeulen shifting to the bench.

“The team is in a super-excited mood and keen to get the campaign back on track after the break and following a good finish against Western Province two weeks ago,” explained Everitt in the build-up to the match.

“It’s important that we keep the momentum going into the next round against the Pumas who we’re expecting to prove to be difficult opponents so we’re going to have to be on top of our game on Saturday to be able to get the result.”

Cell C Sharks