Injuries force Griquas' hands

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Griquas have been forced to make changes to their team for their final Currie Cup league fixture, against the Lions in Kimberley on Saturday.

Injuries, suffered in the 27-23 win over Western Province last week, have ruled out a number of players.

Nqobisizwe Mxoli will start at loosehead prop ahead of Khwezi Mona, who iis struggling with a shoulder niggle.

Gideon van der Merwe is the new No.6 in place of Zandré Jordaan, who suffered a calf iunjury against WP.

And the most significant change is at scrumhalf, where Chriswill September starts in place of Zak Burger.

Burger is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury he suffered against Province last week.

The Lions, who were level-pegging with Griquas before last weekend's of matches, went down 28-30 to the Sharks in Johannesburg, while the Free State Cheetahs pipped the Pumas 43-37 in Nelspruit.

Griquas (19 points) now find themselves two points clear of the second-placed Cheetahs (17) on the competition table.

The Lions (15) drop to third.

Griquas: 15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Michal Haznar, 12 Andre Swarts, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 George Whitehead (captain), 9 Chriswill September, 8 Neill Jordaan, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 AJ Le Roux, 1 Nqobisizwe Mxoli.

Replacements: 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Nicolaas Oosthuizen, 18 Johan Momsen, 19 Conway Pretorius, 20 Christiaan Meyer, 21 Chris Smit, 22 Bjorn Basson, 23 Ruan Kramer.

Date: Saturday, August 24

Venue: Griqua Park, Kimberley

Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)

Referee: AJ Jacobs

Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Aimee Barrett-Theron

TMO: Lourens van der Merwe

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