Bergh names Griquas side to face Cheetahs
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Griquas will face the Cheetahs in their third warm-up match this season in Jacobsdal on Saturday with the experienced George Whitehead running out at fullback.
The match, toted as a SA Cup warm-up match, follows a successful tour to the West-Coast in February for the Peacock Blues.
During the tour they beat Western Province 36-17 and Boland 31-16 in Saldanha.
The 35-year-old Whitehead has been a vital cog in the Griqua machine.
In 2022 he came off the bench to inspire the Griquas to secure a place in the Currie Cup final as the men from Kimberley defeated the Bulls 30-19 in their semifinal clash in Pretoria.
Whitehead scored 18 points after replacing Ashlon Davis in the first half.
The profilic goal kicker and all-round polished Lubabalo Dobela will again be the general in the number 10 jumper for Griquas.
The former BlitzBok is described by Griquas head coach Pieter Berg as one of the quickest backs in the side.
“What I've always liked about him is his attacking ability,” said Bergh.
The SA Cup kicks off on Friday, March 22 when the Cheetahs host Boland in Bloemfontein.
The tournament fills a gap between pre-season and the start of the Currie Cup and First Division competitions, and it replaces the Mzanzi Challenge which served a similar purpose last year.
Griquas: 15 George Whitehead, 14 Marcqwien Titus, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Bingo Ivanisevic, 11 Sako Makata, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Carl Els, 7 Stephan Smit (captain), 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Athenkosi Khetani, 3 Cebo Dlamini, 2 Sean Swart, 1 Kudzwai Dube
Replacements: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Junior Banda, 19 Johan Retief, 20 Niel Otto, 21 Jac van der Walt, 22 Xavier Swartbooi, 23 Jay-Cee Nel, 24 Connor Mahoney, 25 Cameron Hufke