Mongalo goes with tried and tested for Currie Cup semifinal
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Joey Mongalo has revealed his team to face the Pumas in Saturday’s Currie Cup semifinal in Durban.
Mongalo has opted for the tried and tested in his starting team. It features the players that helped the Sharks secure a home semifinal this season.
However, the Sharks will go into battle without Dylan Richardson after he failed a fitness test on Wednesday. It allows Vincent Tshituka to start against the Pumas.
Last weekend Mongalo fielded a team with a lot of United Rugby Championship players, but they fell to a 5-44 defeat to Western Province.
Prop Khwezi Mona is the only player who keeps his place in the starting team from that final-round clash.
He is joined in the front row by Khutha Mchunu and Fezokuhle Mbatha.
Reniel Hugo (captain) and Corne Rahl will form the second row and the back row consists of Henco Venter, Vincent Tshituka and James Venter.
Lionel Cronje is back in the all-important No.10 jersey and his halfback partner is Bradley Davids.
Murray Koster and Alwayno Visagie are the midfielders with Nevaldo Fleurs, Yaw Penxe and Aphelele Fassi forming the back three.
Sharks: 15 Nevaldo Fleurs, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Murray Koster, 12 Alwayno Visagie, 11 Aphelele Fassi, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Reniel Hugo (captain), 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Fezokuhle Mbatha, 1 Khwezi Mona.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Ockie Barnard, 20 Marco de Witt, 21 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 22 Tiaan Fourie, 23 Curwin Bosch.
Date: Saturday, June 17
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17.30 (15.30 GMT)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant Referees: Griffin Colby, Paul Mente
TMO: Quinton Immelman
