Scrumhalf Ross Cronje and hooker Kyle Cooper have been included in the Sharks team for Friday’s Currie Cup clash against Griquas in Durban.

In the only two changes made by coach John Plumtree, Conrad Hoffmann paid the price for a poor showing against the Free State Cheetahs last weekend, when the Durban side were thumped 53-32 in Bloemfontein.

He drops out of the match 22 altogether, while Craig Burden is out after he picked up an injury in the build-up this week.

Good news for the defending champions is that lock Ross Skeate is fit again after breaking his nose and Springbok No 9 Charl McLeod has recovered from a shoulder injury.

Both are named on the bench, along with Wiehahn Herbst (hip) who also missed out last week.

“Craig Burden hurt himself during the week and is out of this match which means Kyle Cooper will start at hooker,” said Plumtree.

“It’s a big shame that we have lost Craig, he’s been going really well, but Kyle has also been good off the bench and this is a good opportunity for him to show what he can do.

“But injuries like Craig’s are really disappointing at this time of the year when we’re approaching the business end of the season.”

Under-21 hooker Monde Hadebe is included in the 22 for the first time.

SHARKS:

15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Sibusiso Sithole, 13 Marius Joubert, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Keegan Daniel (C), 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Eugene van Staden, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Ross Skeate, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Louis Ludik.