Sharks shake up backline for Cheetahs
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks host table-topping Cheetahs at Kings Park on Wednesday in an important Currie Cup clash with the tournament heading for the halfway stage.
The Cheetahs are the final remaining team yet to taste defeat in the competition, having won all five of their matches to date, keeping them top of the log, albeit by only two points over the Bulls who leap-frogged the Sharks into second spot last week.
The Durban side are now in third place, a further two points adrift.
Free Staters have a vastly experienced side, the presence of former Sharks and Springbok stalwarts Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn playing important roles in their team’s successes this season.
Unlike the Sharks whose squad are involved in the URC as well, playing just one tournament means the Bloemfontein-based team has the luxury of selecting the strongest side from their squad in this competition and their ambitions to win the Currie Cup are clear.
Sharks head coach Etienne Fynn has kept to the same pack that did duty against the Bulls last week but has made three changes to the backline.
Following his quality efforts off the bench last week, Ethan Fisher replaces Murray Koster at inside centre with Jeremy Ward bringing in vast experience to the backline, replacing Marnus Potgieter at outside centre.
In the final change, Jordan Chait who was a late replacement for Joaquin Diaz Bonilla when the Argentinean flyhalf was forced out of the game due to food poisoning last week, comes in at fullback.
Chait taked the place of Innocent Radebe, with Bonilla taking his position at 10.
Good news on the injury front sees Dylan Richardson returning to action, having been named on the bench for this match.
Sharks: 15 Jordan Chait, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Ethan Fisher, 11 Curwin Gertse, 10 Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Celimpilo Gumede, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 James Venter (captain), 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Emile van Heerden, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Fezokuhle Mbatha, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Braam Reyneke, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Jeandre Labusagne, 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 OJ Noha, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Lloyd Koster
Date: Wednesday, March 23
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17.45 (15.45 GMT)
Referee: Morne Ferreira
Assistant Referees: Christopher Alison, local referee
TMO: Quinton Immelman