Head coach JP Pietersen has made wholesale changes to the Sharks XV lineup to face the Pumas in the Currie Cup at Kings Park on Friday night.
A Springbok-packed Sharks outfit were stunned by Griquas in a 10-try thriller in Kimberley last week, and all five Boks in that matchday 23 are absent for this week’s clash in Durban.
IG Prinsloo replaces veteran prop Trevor Nyakane at tighthead while Abraham Reyneke takes over from Ntuthuko Mchunu at No 1.
Jannes Potgieter and Siya Ningiza, coming in for Phepsi Buthelezi and Tino Mavesere, at blindside and openside flanker respectively with lock Reinier Viljoen promoted to the starting XV are the final changes among the forwards.
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In the backline, Eduan Keyter swaps out with two-time World Cup-winning winger Makazole Mapimpi while Alwayno Visagie partners Muller du Plessis in the midfield in the absence of Andre Esterhuizen. Hakeem Kunene at fullback completes the lineup of run-on changes, replacing Aphelele Fassi.
Dian Bleuler, Mawande Mdanda, Meno Barnard, Matt Romao, Tian Meyer, Tiaan Swanepoel and Jaco Williams are set to provide impact off the bench.
Champions in 2022 and runners-up last year, the Pumas will be hurting after last week’s 75-21 loss at home to the Lions, having won away against Griquas in the opening round.
Similarly, the Sharks come into this match off the back of two narrow losses that includes a home defeat to the Lions.
Sharks – 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Muller du Plessis, 12 Alwayno Visagie, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Nick Hatton (c), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Siya Ningiza, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Reinier Viljoen, 3 IG Prinsloo, 2 Daniel Jooste, 1 Abraham Reyneke.
Subs: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Meno Barnard, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Tiaan Swanepoel, 23 Jaco Williams.
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
