Griquas limp into final round
Griquas have been forced to make a number of changes ahead of their crucial encounter with the Blue Bulls, in the final round of Currie Cup league matches.
The men from Kimberley travel to Pretoria to take on a Bulls side desperate to stay in the top four (play-off positions), while Griquas themselves are chasing a top-six finish to avoid a promotion-relegation series.
Locks Hilton Lobberts and Boela Serfontein, prop Steph Roberts, flank Carel Greeff and captain Wayne Stevens have all been ruled out with injuries.
Johnathan Francke comes into the midfield in place of regular captain Wayne Stevens, who is sidelined with an ankle ligament injury.
Flyhalf Francois Brummer will take over the captaincy from Stevens.
With Greeff (ankle ligaments) and prop Janro van Niekerk the latest casualties, Fourie has included regular hooker Simon Westraadt at prop and lock Jonathan Adendorf in the flank position.
As a result of injuries the replacement bench as also not been finalised. One spot is to be filled at a later stage.
Griquas coach Hawies Fourie admitted injuries have put his team in a tough predicament.
"Injuries have plagued us this year," Fourie said.
"It is a problem with which any union struggles, but we've gotten the short end of the stick this year. It makes preparations very difficult and it disrupts any momentum we might have had."
Griquas' 45-25 victory over the EP Kings last Saturday has given them an outside chance of finishing among the top-six teams, pending results elsewhere over the coming weekend.
"We still want to finish in the top six and we need to put in a winning performance against the Blue Bulls if we want to achieve that," Fourie said.
"It is going to be difficult, but now even more so in light of the many injuries. Hopefully we can produce some magic come Saturday."
Griquas: 15 Jacquin Jansen, 14 Danie Dames, 13 Petrus Vermeulen, 12 Johnathan Francke, 11 Ederies Arendse, 10 Francois Brummer (captain), 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Jonathan Adendorf, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Jaco Nepgen, 4 Hugo Kloppers, 3 Nicolaas van Dyk, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 Simon Westraadt.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Wesley Cloete, 18 RJ Liebenberg, 19 TBC, 20 Rudi van Rooyen, 21 Dean Grant, 22 Gideon la Grange.
Date: Saturday, October 11
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Lesego Legoete
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman, Sieg van Staden
TMO: Willie Vos
