Cell C Sharks XV Travel to Bloem – Featured Durban Blog

Coming off the back of a fine performance last week, the Cell C Sharks will take confidence into their Absa Currie Cup Qualifying clash with Free State in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

The teams are relatively even on the log, with Free state having earned more bonus points. But in inflicting a first defeat on Western Province last week to end their unbeaten run and see them drop out of the top four, the Cell C Sharks have shown their capabilities against top class opposition.

A win on Saturday could push them into a top four position themselves and given the emphatic performance of last week, coupled with a 48-18 defeat of the Welwitschias from Namibia in their previous match, they are riding a favourable wave of confidence.

A third successive victory would do their play-off hopes the world of good, not to mention the belief they would take out of three committed performances and three victories from those matches.

The match kicks off at 2.15pm at Toyota Stadium on Saturday.

The Cell C Sharks XV

The Cell C Sharks will undertake their first-ever Vodacom Super Rugby challenge in South America when they face the Jaguares from Argentina in a vital clash on Saturday evening.

Director of Rugby Gary Gold has made a number of changes, from rotational, to rest to welcoming back players from injury for this vital clash with the internationally laden Argentinian side.

Despite the confidence they would have taken out of their impressive win over the Hurricanes at Growthpoint KINGS PARK last weekend, Gold believes that they cannot for one second think of taking a foot off the gas.

“This is a week where we really need to stay grounded, we haven’t achieved anything yet and we still have some really tough encounters ahead. We’re still in the fight in our pool and the games ahead are going to be critically important.” he admits. “If we think the Jaguares will be easy in Buenos Aires, we have another thing coming. They’re a team improving every week they play together, there is no doubting their passion.”

While the Cell C Sharks have impressed with the level of intensity they have played at and what they have encountered recently, there’s no denying the fact that they have a massive challenge ahead of them.

“The Jaguares are very physical, they’re going to come at you hard and they have a partisan crowd behind them, I think it’s a very tough challenge for us.

“We must remain humble and rest. Those are the most important. We know what is waiting for us on Saturday night.”

Lwazi Mvovo has been given the week off, as per Springbok requirements and this opens the door for Odwa Ndungane to start. Campaign captain Pat Lambie starts at flyhalf this week after last week’s return to action off the bench in the two changes to the backline.

Amongst the forwards, Jean Deysel replaces  Jean-Luc du Preez who was not considered for selection after sustaining a minor injury in training on Tuesday, while Etienne Oosthuizen, who has carried a heavy workload, will play off the bench with Lubabalo Mtyanda named to start.

In the final change to the starting XV, Lourens Adriaanse makes way for Coenie Oosthuizen in the front row, while there is a welcome return to action for Tera Mtembu who has been named on the bench after missing much of the season due to injury.

The Cell C Sharks