Boland get double boost amidst injury woes
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Boland have been boosted by the return of two key backline players for their Currie Cup semifinal against the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Playmaker Ashlon Davids is back at flyhalf after recovering from injury, while fullback James Tedder also returns after missing last week’s Western Cape derby against Western Province.
There will be extra motivation for players such as Davids, Tedder, Sibusiso Sangweni, and HP van Schoor, who all once called Ellis Park their home during their stints with the Lions.
However, head coach Hawies Fourie has also been dealt a significant blow with both prolific try-scorer Donovan Don (thigh) and powerhouse Wayrin Losper (shoulder), both ruled out due to injury.
Jayden Bantom, who made his debut off the bench against WP, gets his first start in place of Don on the wing. Veteran scrumhalf Louis Schreuder is back in the No.9 jersey after playing off the bench in Cape Town.
He swaps places with Chriswill September.
Up front, lock Ameer Hendricks gets a start in place of Michael Benadie, who will play a role off the bench, while the fit-again Khwezi Mafu replaces Sauliegh Arendse at openside flank.
Mthokozisi Gumede starts at loosehead prop in place of Losper after covering tighthead prop last week, with Laurence Victor now providing tighthead cover from the bench.
Boland: 15 James Tedder, 14 Xavier Mitchell, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Jayden Bantom, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh (captain), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Khwezi Mafu, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Ameer Hendricks, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Mthokozisi Gumede.
Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Michael Benadie, 20 Jurie van Vuuren, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Erik Lambrecht.
Date: Saturday, September 13
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Griffin Colby
Assistant referees: Hanru van Rooyen, Sean Muller
TMO: Egon Seconds
