Kimberley – Griquas may well be without captain and No 8 Jonathan Mokuena for Saturday’s Currie Cup clash against the Sharks in Kimberley.The Griquas skipper will appear in front of a SARU judiciary in Bloemfontein on Wednesday after picking up his third yellow card of the season in the weekend’s Currie Cup match against the Blue Bulls.
“SARU rules dictate that a player has to appear in front of a judiciary if he receives three yellow cards in the same season. Mokuena’s lot will be determined at a hearing in Bloemfontein,” said SARU’s legal manager Christo Ferreira.
Should Mokuena be suspended, Griquas will have to cope without a fine player in a match that will determine whether they advance to the semi-finals.
His yellow cards were all for professional fouls and not foul play. That may well be a point in his favour.
Rumours were circulating this week that two other players – flanker Rohan Kitshoff and Bulls fullback Zane Kirchner – had also been cited.
Kitshoff used a stiff arm on an opponent after the whistle, while Kirchner tackled another player dangerously. However, neither of them were cited.
“Kitshoff and Kirchner have not been cited,” said Ferreira.
It is an open question why they were not cited. Kitshoff virtually decapitated the Bulls player, while Kirchner’s tackle looked a lot more dangerous than the one for which Bok centre Jaque Fourie was suspended for three weeks.
Meanwhile, Christo Buchner reports that the uncertainty about the injured players in the Sharks squad is complicating the matter of selection ahead of the Griquas clash.
Assistant coach Grant Bashford said that there would only be certainty on Thursday morning about which of the injured players would be available.
Centre Riaan Swanepoel, who missed the last few games, will be considered.
John Smit, Johann Muller and Craig Burden also trained with the Sharks on Monday and Tuesday. However, there is still no certainty whether they’ll be able to make the trip to Kimberley.
Impressive flanker Jean Deysel has not trained with the Sharks squad this week. However, there is a possibility that he may be able to play.
The provisional Griquas team:
Riaan Viljoen, Bjorn Basson, Jaco Bekker, Barry Geel, Trompie Nontshinga, Naas Olivier, Sarel Pretorius, Jonathan Mokuena (captain), Davon Raubenheimer, Wesley Wilkins, Jacques Lombard, Cecil-John Kemp, Ruaan du Preez, Rayno Barnes, Albertus Buckle. Substitutes: Andries Kruger, Drew van Coller/Eric Coetzee, Brendon Snyman, Heinrich Stride, Donald Stevens, Wilmaure Louw, Gavin Passens.
Jannethan Mokuena out!
“Peter Grant will partner Ricky Januarie at halfback when WP travel to Johannesburg this Saturday.
Province coach Allister Coetzee made eight changes for last week’s game against Boland, but has reverted to a team similar to the one that beat Griquas. Januarie and Grant will start at halfback with Juan de Jongh and Frikkie Welsh in midfield. As a result, Matt To’omua will play from the bench.
‘Peter’s a Springbok and has played in some tight games,’ Coetzee told keo.co.za. ‘His experience and defence will be invaluable in a game like this. We’re taking this match very seriously. We want to keep that winning momentum.’”
WP SPAN vir Saterdag se game:
Western Province – 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Frikkie Welsh, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Sireli Naqelevuki, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Luke Watson (c), 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Anton van Zyl, 3 JC Kritzinger, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Subs: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JD Moller, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Dewaldt Duvenage, 21 Matt To’omua, 22 Gio Aplon.
Makuena is already cleared
@dWeePer – Bly om dit te hoor…..
We need Deysel for the Semi. If he is not 100% rather rest him this week.
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