Ruan Pienaar will start in his old position at scrumhalf for the Sharks in their Currie Cup match against the Leopards in Durban on Friday.
Having been moved from scrumhalf, to flyhalf, to fullback for the Springboks, Pienaar will now be considered primarily as a No 9for the rest of the season and he will partner Juan Hernandez on Friday.
There are a number of changes to the Sharks team, with Luzuko Vulindlu returning from injury to replace Odwa Ndungane on the right wing. The latter is being rested after the Tri-Nations.
Michael Rhodes will start his first Currie Cup game of the season in the No 7 jersey, with Jean Deysel injured and Keegan Daniel carrying a thumb injury that will keep him on the bench.
Steven Sykes is also carrying an injury niggle and is named among the substitutes as a result, with Alistair Hargreaves getting his first start of the season, partnering Albert van den Berg in the second row.
With three rounds of matches remaining in the pool stages, Sharks coach John Plumtree has had something of a juggling act to negotiate over the past 10 days with injuries, players returning from injury and a slew of Springboks available for the province.
With Western Province breathing down the Sharks’ necks and any manner of permutations still remaining as to where the top four teams end up on the log as they search for home ground advantage come the play-offs, winning – and winning well – against the Leopards is a non-negotiable.
The Sharks: 15. Stefan Terblanche (captain),14. Luzuko Vulindlu, 13. Waylon Murray, 12. Andries Strauss, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Juan Hernandez, 9. Ruan Pienaar, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Michael Rhodes, 6. Jacques Botes, 5. Albert van den Berg, 4. Alistair Hargreaves, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Skipper Badenhorst, 1. Patric Cilliers
Replacements: 16. Bismarck du Plessis,17. Deon Carstens, 18. Steven Sykes, 19. Keegan Daniel, 20. Rory Kockott, 21. Monty Dumond, 22. Adrian Jacobs
Date: Friday, Septemeber 24
Venue: Absa Stadium, Durban
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Kokkerotjan…
sterk span ruan sal goed vaar
‘n Fout vir Ruan. Daar word na hom verwys as alsydige speler in plaas van skrumskakel.
Good Sharks team that.
Well if you get injured with so many great scrummies around someone will grab the chacne to take your position.
The Tjarks are playing basically a 2nd team which is good as it treats the Leopards with the respect that they deserve. Unlike WP who would play their star studded team against the whipping boys of the CC.
Met die kokkerot op die bank is dit n paar strafskoppe minder vir die kolkatte…
En Jacobs is Springbok maar maak nie die beginspan nie? Bo baie gemiddelde senters?
@Stan – stan adi had family issues to solve this week so cant train much thus he playing off the bench
cockott is comming off a recurring injury thus benched
Jacobs has been struggling with a shoulder injury for months.
@sharky_forever –
he is over that injury , he had family matters to sought out
@sharky_forever – Howzit mate, Good to see Kockott back even if he is on the bench.
hiyas bro true , and cockott takes way to much flack , specially sharks supporters that forget when we were in trouble his bmt and kicking saved us
@sharky_forever – 11
Thats for sure. Just hope we don’t lose him too like we done with F. Steyn.
Whats the weather like up there. Was watching the cricket on and off now see this cricket chat show on and no cricket. Unless Paki has won it already.
for sure
me too
not sure
@Puma –
@sharky_forever – 13
I like Kockott. Has been playing some good rugga. Also can kick at posts too. Must say Hernandez is looking very good. Then he is only here for a year and probably will be gone again. Who will play FH then? Ruan? He has been messed around far too much too just like Frans.
@sharky_forever – 14
Ja, not sure what happened to the cricket. Looked at the supersport batting figures and it still shows Paki 35/2 so who knows maybe there is rain there.
Cheers Sharky. Going to see if there is any cricket back on tv.
Back later.
The Sharks have good goal kickers which will be a plus for the close games. Apart from Morne Steyn we have the best kickers in the country. Yebo yes!!!
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