The Cell C Sharks team selected to take on the Pumas shows a strong leaning towards continuity from last week’s Vodacom Super Rugby quarter-final clash with the Lions, with a sprinkling of players who did Currie Cup duty in week one.
With last week’s overlapping matches in the two competitions, the players involved in Super Rugby action were unavailable for Currie Cup duty. That changes this week and the side named for Saturday’s Currie Cup clash with the Pumas at Growthpoint KINGS PARK reflects a number of changes.
Eight of last week’s Super Rugby starters continue this week, with prop Ross Geldenhuys, locks Hyron Andrews and Ruan Botha (who takes over as captain), loose forward Keegan Daniel, scrumhalf Michael Claassens, centre Jeremy Ward and fullback Garth April joining them in the starting line-up.
Replacement hooker, Franco Marais, admits that this week is all about the winning trail and being in the right mental space.
“We regrouped and got the mindset right again. We’re keen to get stuck into the Currie Cup.
“We ended in fifth place last year, we have to fix that, no excuses,” he says emphatically. “But we’re eager to go and get this campaign going.”
There is also the matter of pride, which Marais almost puts out as a challenge.
“We have something to prove this year and a number of wrongs to fix and make right and we need to make sure the intensity is up there because if you can’t get up for a Currie Cup game playing for the Cell C Sharks, then you shouldn’t be here.”
“We as a Cell C Sharks team have a lot to prove and we have a number of Super Rugby players now available and hopefully we can take those same standards and intensity of the game against the Lions through to this weekend’s game.”
The Pumas beat the Lions in their match last weekend, and Marais is under no illusions that his team is going to face a fired up side keen on inflicting damage on them.
“This game is going to be tough and challenging. But it’s nothing we aren’t ready for and we’re keen an eager to get going.”
| The Cell C Sharks |
Replacements | ||
| 1 | Thomas du Toit | 16 | Franco Marais |
| 2 | Chiliboy Ralepelle | 17 | Juan Schoeman |
| 3 | Ross Geldenhuys | 18 | Tyler Paul |
| 4 | Hyron Andrews | 19 | Tera Mtembu |
| 5 | Ruan Botha (Captain) | 20 | Jacques Vermeulen |
| 6 | Keegan Daniel | 21 | Cameron Wright |
| 7 | Jean-Luc du Preez | 22 | Inny Radebe |
| 8 | Daniel du Preez | ||
| 9 | Michael Claassens | ||
| 10 | Curwin Bosch | ||
| 11 | Sbu Nkosi | ||
| 12 | Lukhanyo Am | ||
| 13 | Jeremy Ward | ||
| 14 | Kobus van Wyk | ||
| 15 | Garth April |
The post Cell C Sharks Bolstered appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
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