Sharks captain Stefan Terblanche will run out in his preferred position at fullback for Friday night’s Absa Currie Cup game against the Pumas in Witbank.

Sport24

With Louis Ludik battling with injury over the last couple of weeks, Monty Dumond has slotted into the fullback berth, but coach John Plumtree has opted to rather bring the experienced Terblanche back to his favoured spot for this match.

Ludik may still feature if he comes through a fitness test during captain’s practice later in the week, but even if he does, the former Lions player will only play off the bench – where he has been bracketed with Luzuko Vulindlu.

“In Louis Ludik’s case, it wasn’t fair to wait until captain’s practice for selection, I wanted to name a starting 15 and he’s been bracketed on the bench,” Plumtree explained.

“Stefan Terblanche will give us real go-forward ball from a counter perspective and his experience is obviously important. Swannie and Andries have been in good form.”

Andries Strauss shifts to outside centre in place of Terblanche, with Riaan Swanepoel coming into the No 12 jersey.

Up front, returning Springbok Ryan Kankowski makes a straight swap with the injured but in-form Keegan Daniel who sprained his ankle last weekend.

Without Bismarck du Plessis and Beast Mtawaira who are on a Springbok conditioning programme, the Sharks have re-shuffled their front row entirely, with Craig Burden and Pat Cilliers coming in for the missing Boks while Eugene van Staden replaces Wiehahn Herbst.

Replacement hooker Kyle Cooper returns to the bench along with Skholiwe Ndlovu.

Teams:

Pumas:

15. Johan Jackson, 14. Braam Pretorius, 13. Tiaan Marx, 12. Ashwin Scott, 11. Allister Kettledas, 10. Elgar Watts, 9. Tian Carel Meyer, 8. Christo le Roux, 7. Torsten van Jaarsveld, 6. Corne Steenkamp, 5. Marius Coetzer, 4. Andries Kruger, 3. Ashley Buys, 2. Hannes Franklin (captain), 1. Ronnie Uys

Replacements: 16. De-Jay Terblanche, 17. Dawie Steyn, 18. Willem Jacob Serfontein, 19. Jaco Bouwer, 20. Ricardo Croy, 21. Siviwe Wilmot Magaba, 22. Martin Sithole

Sharks:

15. Stefan Terblanche (captain) 14. Odwa Ndungane 13. Andries Strauss 12. Riaan Swanepoel 11. Lwazi Mvovo 10. Patrick Lambie 9. Charl McLeod 8. Ryan Kankowski 7. Willem Alberts 6. Jacques Botes 5. Alistair Hargreaves 4. Steven Sykes 3. Eugene van Staden 2. Craig Burden 1. Patric Cilliers

Replacements: 16. Kyle Cooper 17. Wiehahn Herbst 18. Michael Rhodes 19. Skholiwe Ndlovu 20. Rory Kockott 21. Andre Pretorius 22. Louis Ludik / Luzuko Vulindlu