The Cell C Sharks have a huge assignment this weekend when they travel to Johannesburg to take on the Golden Lions at Emirates Airline Park in a vital Currie Cup clash on Sunday.
Under 21 flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain is poised to make his senior debut after the loss of Curwin Bosch to a lower back sprain that has ruled him out of action and head coach Sean Everitt has had no hesitation in including Chamberlain who he coached in last year’s victorious Under 19 campaign.
John-Hubert Meyer will start at tighthead prop in the other change to the starting XV for Coenie Oosthuizen who has a ligament injury on his left knee, while another youngster, Dylan Richardson, comes onto the bench as back-up to Kerron van Vuuren at hooker, his first senior cap in sight. Utility back Leolin Zas is also named on the bench for an injured Marius Louw, who picked up an unfortunate MCL injury to his left knee in last week’s match.
Everitt will be asking for his charges to follow the standard they set last week against Free State where they showed incredible composure in the face of huge pressure to win.
“It was a tough game – we expected it against Free State– but we focused on what we needed to do and I never felt during the game that we would lose even though we were put under pressure,” explains Cell C Sharks lock Hyron Andrews. “But we stuck to our guns and the guys showed a lot of composure to pull it though.”
Andrews admits that while there is pressure on the team, given how short and tight the competition is this year, they’re in a good mental space and excited for the challenge ahead.
“Every game in the Currie Cup has been like a play-off game, every match is important, and I expect nothing less than a high tempo game and a very tough one on Sunday.
“But we’ve prepared well this week and we’re looking forward to it.”
Cell C Sharks
- Mzamo Majola
- Kerron van Vuuren
- John-Hubert Meyer
- Ruben van Heerden
- Hyron Andrews
- Phepsi Buthelezi
- Jacques Vermeulen
- Tera Mtembu (c)
- Sanele Nohamba
- Boeta Chamberlain*
- Lwazi Mvovo
- Jeremy Ward (c)
- JP Pietersen
- Kobus van Wyk
- Aphelele Fassi
Replacements
- Dylan Richardson*
- Juan Schoeman
- Khutha Mchunu
- Gideon Koegelenberg
- Evan Roos
- Cameron Wright
- Rhyno Smith
- Leolin Zas
*Denotes that if the player comes off the bench he would make his Currie Cup debut for the Cell C Sharks
The post Huge Clash Beckons appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
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