The Cell C Sharks hosts the Sigma Lions in Saturday’s only Carling Currie Cup game at the Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban @ 17h00.
In Saturday’s only fixture, staged in Durban, hosts the Cell C Sarks return to action after a bye the previous round. The Durbanites and Sigma Lions have each won twice during their previous five-game stretch against each other, with one cancelled game in-between. The coastal side won 45-31 in Johannesburg the last time they met in February.
However, the Joburg outfit will be buoyed by their first win of the campaign last week at home against DHL WP. A second win won’t come easy against a quality Cell C Sharks side stacked with experience and equally eager to win in order to safeguard their position in the top-four.
Cell C Sharks' head coach Etienne Fynn has made a number of changes to the side from their last outing, against the Toyota Cheetahs, in a bid to secure a top four finish with just two rounds of the pool stages remaining.
Dian Bleuler and Jason Alexander take over at loosehead prop and hooker for Khwezi Mona and Fez Mbatha (injured) respectively.
Thembelani Bholi shifts to lock in place of Emile van Heerden, with Jeandre Labuschagne taking his place on the flank, joining James Venter who reverts as captain and takes over from Dylan Richardson.
In the only changes to the backline, there is a new halfback partnership with Zee Mkhabela replacing Cameron Wright and Tito Bonilla replacing Boeta Chamberlain.
Sigma Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has announced his team with only one change made to the starting line-up. Vincent Tshituka returns to the starting line-up at the side of the scrum.
Teams:
Cell C Sharks: 15. Nevaldo Fleurs, 14. Marnus Potgieter, 13. Jeremy Ward, 12. Murray Koster, 11. Anthony Volmink, 10. Joaquin Bonilla, 9. Mthokozisi Mkhabela, 8. Mpilo Gumede, 7. Jeandre Labuschagne, 6. James Venter (c), 5. Hyron Andrews, 4. Thembelani Bholi, 3. Lourens Adriaanse, 2. Jason Alexander, 1. Dian Bleuler. Replacements: 16. Jacques Marais, 17. Kwezi Mona, 18. Keagan Glade, 19. OJ Noa, 20. Nick Hatton, 21. Geraldo Jaars, 22. Jordan Chait, 23. Siviwe Zondani.
Sigma Lions: 15. Quan Horn, 14. Stean Pienaar, 13. Henco van Wyk, 12. Matt More, 11. Edwill van der Merwe, 10. Tiaan Swanepoel, 9. Sanele Nohamba, 8. Francke Horn, 7. Emmanuel Tshituka, 6. Vincent Tshituka, 5. Reinhard Nothnagel (c), 4. Ruben Schoeman, 3. Ruan Dreyer, 2. Morne Brandon, 1. JP Smith. Replacements: 16. PJ Botha, 17. Sti Sithole, 18. Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19. Jarod Cairns, 20. Sibusiso Sangweni, 21. Andre Warner, 22. Jordon Hendrikse, 23. Wandisile Simelane.