The Cell C Sharks have had little time to rest on their laurels following their blistering 35-28 Carling Currie Cup victory over the Vodacom Blue Bulls on Friday as they head to Mbombela Stadium to take on the New Nation Pumas on Wednesday afternoon.
In their most recent outing, the Pumas accounted for the Sigma Lions at Emirates Airline Park (36-33), their second win over the Johannesburg side after accounting for them in quite emphatic style in the opening round, winning that match 39-10.
As matters stand, they have dropped down the table to sixth place, but that does not mean much when it comes to the perennial underdogs who punch well above their weight and enjoy nothing more than giving a top franchise a real working over.
Physicality will be at the forefront of this match, but given the Cell C Sharks efforts to counter this aspect of the game from a very physical Blue Bulls side just a few days ago, head coach Sean Everitt will be calling on his players to deliver the same intensity in standing up to whatever the Pumas throw at them.
Given the quick turnaround, Everitt has been forced into a number of changes to his side for this clash, exhorting his players to match what they delivered on Friday at Jonsson Kings Park to go top of the table – this time to cement their position as log leaders.
In the front row, the props who finished against the Blue Bulls will start this match, Khwezi Mona on the loosehead side and Lourens Adriaanse at tighthead, with Ntuthuko Mchunu and Khutha Mchunu coming off the bench.
In the second row, Emile van Heerden comes in for Reniel Hugo while Thembelani Bholi takes over from Henco Venter who shifts to eighthman in place of Phepsi Buthelezi and also takes over the captaincy.
Amongst the backs, Sanele Nohamba replaces Grant Williams and partners up with Boeta Chamberlain as the new flyhalf, taking over from Lionel Cronje who plays off the bench and in the final two changes, Marius Louw and Jeremy Ward will take over the midfield duties from Murray Koster and Werner Kok respectively.
The match kicks off at 2.30pm.
Cell C Sharks
1. Khwezi Mona
2. Kerron van Vuuren
3. Lourens Adriaanse
4. Le Roux Roets
5. Emile van Heerden
6. Dylan Richardson
7. Thembelani Bholi
8. Henco Venter (c)
9. Sanele Nohamba
10. Boeta Chamberlain
11. Thaakir Abrahams
12. Marius Louw
13. Jeremy Ward
14. Yaw Penxe
15. Anthony Volmink
Replacements
16. Dan Jooste
17. Ntuthuko Mchunu
18. Khutha Mchunu
19. Jeandre Labuschagne
20. James Venter
21. Cameron Wright
22. Lionel Cronje
23. Marnus Potgieter
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