Griquas coach forced to change for Cheetahs showdown
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Griquas coach Scott Mathie has been forced to name a new captain for his team’s Round Two Currie Cup outing.
Griquas will host the Cheetahs in Kimberley on Saturday.
The Cheetahs had a bye in Round One.
No.8 Ruan Steenkamp, who captained Griquas in last week’s 16-30 to the Sharks, has been ruled out for ‘personal’ reasons.
Hanru Sirgel comes into the starting XV at No.8 and seasoned scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer takes over the team’s captaincy.
Mathie made four changes to the starting XV – with Jay-Cee Nel set to make his debut at outside centre, in the place of Ederies Arendse.
The other changes are all among the forwards.
Sirgel comes in for Steenkamp.
Ewald van der Westhuizen starts at tighthead prop in place of Andries Schutte and Jeandré Leonard come in at lock for Mzwanele Zito.
On the bench, Janu Botha and Henco Beukes are set to make their debuts for Griquas.
Apart from the absence of Steenkamp, Griquas also have a lengthy injury list – Nqobisizwe Mxoli (shoulder), Alandre van Rooyen (fracture), Andries Schutte (shoulder), Michal Haznar (hamstring), Stefan Willemse (illness), Adre Smith (shin), Carl Els (concussion), Tinus de Beer (unspecified) and Luyolo Dapula (unspecified).
Griquas: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Jay-Cee Nel, 12 Andre Swarts, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Stefan Ungerer (captain), 8 Hanru Sirgel, 7 Sibabalo Qoma, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Jeandré Leonard, 3 Ewald Van Der Westhuizen, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Andrew Beerwinkel.
Replacements – from: 16 Hendrick Luus, 17 Andrew Kuhn, 18 Janu Botha, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Henco Beukes, 21 Raegan Oranje, 22 Theo Boshoff, 23 Ederies Arendse, 24 Ashlon Davids, 25 Enver Brandt, 26 Tijde Visser.
Date: Saturday, June 26
Venue: Griqua Park, Kimberley
Kick-off: 13.00 (11.00 GMT)
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Cwengile Jadezweni
