Hawies Fourie
Griquas coach Hawies Fourie has rewarded the squad which earned Currie Cup qualification by retaining much of the team for the Sharks clash at GWK Park on Saturday.
The Kimberley-based side regained their status after ending the qualifying round undefeated.
“Now that we are once again part of the Currie Cup, we don’t just want to be a number. We want to be a real contender in the competition and we hope to use the momentum that we got form the qualifiers to achieve just that,” Fourie said.
The former Free State Cheetahs assistant coach said the team had set themselves high targets for the upcoming campaign.
“We have our sights set on the semi-finals, but we at least want to end the series in sixth position to ensure that we don’t need to play in the qualifiers next year.”
Flank Marnus Schoeman and No 8 Carel Greeff have been outstanding in the breakdown areas, and will again attempt to thwart the Sharks on their home turf.
Griquas have lost key players to other unions since last year’s Currie Cup, with star players like Springbok fullback Willie le Roux and Bok prop Lourens Adriaanse moving to the Cheetahs and Sharks respectively.
Recently, lock Ligtoring Landman moved to Newport in Wales and Howard Mnisi to the Golden Lions.
But they have also made some good acquisitions in captain Wayne Stevens, Hugo Kloppers, and Ruan Lerm who came in from the Lions, while Jonathan Francke and Boela Serfontein joined from Boland and the Pumas respectively.
Former Lions centre Doppies la Grange has also joined the Griquas squad ahead of the Currie Cup season.
The 32-year-old arrived in Kimberley after playing for Italian club Benetton Treviso since 2012. He previously represented the Lions between 2003 and 2012.
Doppies la Grange
La Grange fills the void left by Howard Mnisi, who has been contracted by the Lions.
“It helps having experienced players like Doppies among our ranks. Our depth at centre is looking good. We have other decent players like Wayne Stevens, Jonathan Francke , PJ Vermeulen and Niel Marais who will all be utilised,” said Fourie.
Le Grange only joined his new team-mates on Tuesday and was therefore not included in the team to face the Sharks in Kimberley this Saturday
“We have the momentum thanks to winning the Vodacom Cup and the qualifiers.
“We are still a unit where other teams have to make due without many Springboks who will play in the Rugby Championship. We are in a good place,” Fourie said.
Griquas: 15 Nico Scheepers, 14 Danie Dames, 13 Jonathan Francke, 12 Wayne Stevens (Captain), 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Carel Greeff, 7 Hilton Lobberts, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Jaco Nepgen, 4 Boela Serfontein, 3 Maks van Dyk, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Steph Roberts
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 18 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 19 Hugo Kloppers, 20 RJ Liebenberg, 21 Abrie Griesel, 22 Marais Schmidt, 23 Ederies Arendse.