Kings import starts for Griquas
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Cyril Velleman will earn a first start for Griquas in round two of the Currie Cup.
Griquas face the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday.
The inclusion of the former Southern Kings loose forward is the only change to the side named by Griquas coach Scott Mathie.
Velleman replaces the injured Gideon van der Merwe, who was forced to leave the field last Saturday in their weather-affected match against Lions – after a blow to the head – and did not recover in time for the trip to the Mbombela Stadium.
The 25-year-old Velleman moved from the Eastern Cape earlier this season, having played all of his representative rugby for the Southern Kings, after making his debut in 2014.
He was named on the bench for the Kimberley side when they faced the Lions in Super Rugby Unlocked a couple of weeks back, but now gets the opportunity to impress Mathie against a tough Pumas pack.
Mathie also made two changes to his extended bench for the trip, with Zandre Jordaan (in for Bandisa Ndlovu) and Ashlon Davids (for Masixole Banda) making the trip to the Lowveld.
Griquas: 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Johnathan Francke, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Zak Burger (captain), 8 Johan Momsen, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Cyril Velleman, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 Hendrick Luus, 1 Nqobisizwe Mxoli.
Replacements – from: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 John-Roy Jenkinson, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Carl Els, 21 Theo Maree, 22 Andre Swarts, 23 Enver Brandt, 24 Zandre Jordaan, 25 Ewan Coetzee, 26 Ashlon Davids.
Date: Friday, December 4
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Paul Mente, Morne Ferreira
TMO: Willie Vos
