Pumas to Face Toughened Sharks
The Sharks host the Pumas in their second round Absa Currie Cup match at Mr Price KINGS PARK this Saturday (kick-off at 3pm) with minimal changes to the side that beat the Blue Bulls last week.
With the emphasis on lightening the load on defence (and suffering the consequences of it down the line), The Sharks are looking to up the tempo on attack and enjoy the fruits of some hard work.
“We’re trying to grow our attack and have done quite a bit of work on it this week,” explains coach John Plumtree.
“We have a lot of respect for this Pumas side, they’ve certainly played really well all year but right now, we’re not talking about the Pumas, we’re trying to talk about what we want to do and that’s very important. We just want to focus on getting a win, I’m sure they’ll want to do the same.”
As announced earlier in the week Charl McLeod is out injured but everyone else is fit. “Eugene van Staden and Jean Deysel are both OK to play although Wiehahn Herbst will start at tighthead with Eugene carrying an injury concern after the Bulls game,” The Sharks coach confirms.
Alistair Hargreaves and Ross Skeate will start in the second row, the first time the two have been named in the starting XV this campaign.
“It’s one of the few opportunities to play Ross and Alistair together at the same time, I want to give those guys a start and see how they play together obviously with an eye to looking forward to Super Rugby and see how they combine as a partnership.”
A slight rejig of the loose forward formulation sees Keegan Daniel reverting to eighthman and Jean Deysel starting on the flank while the loss of Charl McLeod to injury sees Conrad Hoffmann (pictured) starting with Ross Cronje recalled to the side as scrumhalf back-up after helping College Rovers secure the Castle Murray Cup this past weekend.
There are no further changes to the backline. On the bench, Plumtree has reverted back to a 4:3 split with Jan Andre Marais dropping out and Jacques-Louis Potgieter added to the backline reinforcements.
The Sharks coach has reiterated his call to Sharks fans to come out in support of the team. “It’s a daytime game when conditions at this time of the year at Mr Price KINGS PARK are always good, so it’s a nice opportunity for a big crowd to come out and watch the game and braai afterwards.”
The Sharks
15. Louis Ludik
14. Sibusiso Sithole
13. Stefan Terblanche
12. Meyer Bosman
11. Lwazi Mvovo
10. Frederic Michalak
9. Conrad Hoffmann
8. Keegan Daniel (Captain)
7. Marcell Coetzee
6. Jean Deysel
5. Ross Skeate
4. Alistair Hargreaves
3. Wiehahn Herbst
2. Craig Burden
1. Dale Chadwick
Replacements
16. Kyle Cooper
17. Eugene van Staden
18. Anton Bresler
19. Jacques Botes
20. Ross Cronje
21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter
22. Adrian Jacobs
(www.sharksrugby.co.za)
Related Posts
« Schoolboys to fly SA flag at Commonwealth Youth Games Rugby Jargon for the Ladies »
