Sharks unleash Bok front row
The Sharks have signaled their intent to retain the Currie Cup this season, with a full strength side named for Saturday’s semifinal against the Cheetahs.
The full compliment of Springboks are back in action this weekend, with all the big names – back from the World Cup – in the starting XV after most of the Sharks’ heavy artillery was left on the bench last week.
There is an all-Springbok front row in the form of Tendai Mtawarira and the Du Plessis brothers, Jannie and Bismarck. That will make things tough for the Cheetahs scrum, who are still without Coenie Oosthuizen.
JP Pietersen replaces Lwazi Mvovo on the left wing, with Odwa Ndungane continuing on the right wing, but the flying Mvovo – himself a full Test Bok – could make an impact off the bench along with fellow international Adi Jacobs.
Willem Alberts is also back in an intimidating loose trio that includes Ryan Kankowski and Keegan Daniel, with impressive rookie Marcell Coetzee providing cover from the bench.
There is a minor worry regarding Jean Deysel’s fitness, so the big forward has been bracketed with Anton Bresler – pending a final assessment.
The match marks stalwart Jacques Botes’ 100th Currie Cup match for the Sharks, and coach John Plumtree has hailed him as “the ultimate team man”.
“From my side as coach, he’s the ultimate team man, ultimate player to coach because of his attitude to the team, whether it’s off the bench, starting or not in the team at all, his attitude stays the same,” Plumtree said.
“He’s an outstanding professional and he’s been an outstanding role player for a lot of younger players in the team. It’s great that he gets to celebrate this game at home, it’s such an important game.
“There have been a lot of sacrifices, with his family as well. He’s been around the world a few times.”
The openside flank said he was pleased to have reached another milestone in his career, but believed there was still more to come.
“Since 2005, I’ve had some good times at the Sharks – I’m very grateful to still be playing here and there are still a few more game left in the tank,” Botes said.
“It’s been awesome, it’s gone fairly quickly and I’m excited to celebrate it in front of a home crowd. Highlights include Currie Cup Finals, making my debut which was also awesome for me, there has been the odd game where you look back and think ‘Wow, that was a great performance’ where the team played well, but ultimately it’s about the trophies.”
Sharks: 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanché, 12 Marius Joubert, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Keegan Daniel (captain), 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Jean Deysel/Anton Bresler, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Eugene van Staden, 18 Marcell Coetzee, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Ross Cronjé, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Lwazi Mvovo.
Date: Saturday, October 22
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 14.30 (12.30 GMT)
Referee: Marius Jonker
Assistant referees: Lesego Legoete, Marc van Zyl
TMO: JC Fortuin
