Backline shake-up for Sharks
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The Sharks have made five changes to their starting backline for the clash with the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
The defending Currie Cup champions went down to Griquas in Durban last week and coach Brad Macleod-Henderson has responded by making some drastic changes.
Tim Swiel starts at fullback with journeyman Lionel Cronje replacing flyhalf Fred Zeilinga who drops to the bench.
There is a brand new centre combination on Cronje's outside as Junior Springbok Andre Esterhuizen links up with S’bura Sithole whose place on the wing is taken by Tonderai Chavhanga.
Fullback Jaco van Tonder and centres Paul Jordaan and Heimar Williams have all been dropped from the match-day squad completely.
The only two changes to the forward pack come in the tight five with the experienced Marco Wentzel in for Wiehan Hay, and Dale Chadwick at loosehead prop with Thomas du Toit on the bench.
Macleod-Henderson admitted that the pressure is on as his side do not want to get left behind on the standings.
"It’s quite congested around the middle of the log, we’re in fourth place but Free State are just behind us, trailing by two points," he said
The Sharks coach knows that the Cheetahs will be a real threat out wide in Bloemfontein.
"They have plenty of threats, they play with quite a lot of width to their game and Sarel Pretorius at scrumhalf is always a dangerous threat. They have quite a good lineout too, so we’ll have to perform well," he said.
Sharks: 15 Tim Swiel, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 S’bura Sithole, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Tonderai Chavhanga, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Tera Mtembu (captain), 7 Etienne Oosthuizen, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Stephen Lewies, 4 Marco Wentzel, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Johan Meyer, 19 Khaya Majola, 20 Cameron Wright, 21 Fred Zeilinga, 22 SP Marais.
Date: Saturday, September 13
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Cwengile Jadezweni
TMO: JJ Wagner
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