Sharks v Pumas - Teams and prediction
FRIDAY PREVIEW: It is make or break for Jimmy Stonehouse and his team as they head to Durban for a must-win Currie Cup Round Seven clash against the Sharks.
The Sharks hosts a double header with the visiting Saracens being the curtain raiser ahead of their Currie Cup clash with the Pumas.
Three players will double up their playing duties off the bench with Jacques Marais, Dian Bleuler and Ceano Everson being named as replacements for both matches.
For the Pumas, it’s do or die, and they might require a favour from the Bulls, who face the Cheetahs on Saturday.
Should the Pumas get the job done against the Sharks and bag the full house of points, they will be one point ahead of the Cheetahs before their clash against the Bulls, which will determine the Mbombela-based side’s play-off fate.
Stonehouse emphasised the importance of getting the victory to advance to the semifinals and stated which area of the game the Pumas will look to target the Sharks.
The article continues below…
“This is a do-or-die game for us. We have to beat the Sharks.
“We made two changes to our team with Etienne Janeke being replaced by Dewald Maritz at loosehead prop and JJ Scheepers making way for Hanno Theunissen at lock.
“We are looking to dominate the set-piece battle.
“We saw they selected quite a few players from their United Rugby Championship squad, especially in the forwards.
“But this is a game we have to win to try and get into a semifinal, and hopefully it can work out for us.
“We’re travelling down to Durban this afternoon [Thursday]
“I’m hoping for a great encounter and I’m looking forward to it.”
The Sharks are out of Currie Cup play-off contention and will host a double header, with their match against Saracens being the curtain raiser.
They selected a mixture of youth and experience in both teams, with the Currie Cup outfit boasting four Springboks in the matchday squad.
Plumtree explained the mixture of his selections for both teams and what he wants to get from the two matches.
The article continues below…
“I introduced some URC players into both teams. It’s just pre-season games for us, and we need the hit out.
“It’s not so much around us getting a result. It’s more about getting the contact work in the players need before we start the URC season.
“Next Friday, we are travelling to George to face the Stormers, and we’re taking a 28-player squad down there to play.
“[Regarding] the Saracens game, we have a mixture with some young players [in the side].
“We’ve had to put a few players in [the team] from elsewhere to make up our numbers as our Under-19s and Under-21s are playing in Bloemfontein.
“There have been some challenges in that regard to get the two groups together, but we’ve done that.
“Some players will play off the bench for both matches, so it’s a bit old school in that regard.”
Prediction:
@rugby365com: Pumas by five points
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Yaw Penxe, 14 Phikolomzi Sobahle, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Paschal Ekeji, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka (captain), 6 Manu Tshituka, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Batho Hlekani, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Phatu Ganyane
Replacements: 16 Jacques Marais, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Deon Slabbert, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Jean Smith, 23 Jaco Williams.
Pumas: 15 Stefan Coetzee, 14 Lundi Msenge, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Ross Braude (vice captain), 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 Hanno Theunissen, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Dewald Maritz.
Replacements: 16 Darnelle Osuagwu, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Junior Banda, 19 JJ Scheepers, 20 Andre Fouche, 21 Russwill Fredericks, 22 Danrich Visagie, 23 Andrew Kota.
Date: Saturday, September 6
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Griffin Colby
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs, Caleb Hibbert
TMO: Marius Jonker
