Windhoek Draught Griquas will face the Vodacom Bulls on Saturday in Kimberley at 15h00.
Windhoek Draught Griquas will be watching the match in Nelspruit closely. If the Airlink Pumas win, then the men from Kimberley will have the opportunity to push for a victory against the Vodacom Bulls on Saturday, and reduce the deficit between themselves and the Cell C Sharks on the log. The gap between third and fourth at this stage is five points.
Like the Cell C Sharks, the Vodacom Bulls were recently eliminated from the Vodacom United Rugby Championship and may opt to deploy some of their stars in the latter stages of the Currie Cup. The Pretoria-based union has struggled on the domestic scene in recent weeks, and another loss could damage their playoff prospects.
Windhoek Draught Griquas head coach Pieter Berg changed three up front in his starting line-up.
Up front Kudzwai Dube replaces Cebo Dlamini at the loosehead prop, while Albert Liebenberg is replaced by Dylan Sjoblom on lock. In the third change up front Thabo Ndimande replaces Stephan Smit at the side of the scrum.
The Vodacom Bulls assembled a formidable forward pack with Gerhard Steenekamp (loosehead), Johan Grobbelaar (hooker) and Mornay Smith (tighthead) in the front row. Ruan Nortje and his namesake, Ruan Vermaak combine at lock. In the back row, returning Marcell Coetzee (blindside) starts alongside Nizaam Carr (openside) and Elrigh Louw (eighth man).
Embrose Papier (scrumhalf) and Chris Smith (flyhalf) will combine as the halfback combination for the outing.
In the backline, Marco Jansen van Vuren (left) will pair up with Fort Hare native, Sibongile Novuka (right) on the wings, whilst Harold Vorster and Stedman Gans link up at centre. David Kriel will start at fullback.
Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Simphiwe Matanzima, Francois Klopper, Charlie Ewels, Cyle Brink, Keagan Johannes, Chris Barend Smit and Cornal Hendricks form part of the impact squad, should their services be called upon.
Teams
Windhoek Draught Griquas: 15 Ashlon Davids, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 Jay-Cee Nel, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Sako Makata, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Carl Els, 7 Hanru Sirgel (c), 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Dylan Sjöblom, 4 Derik Pretorius, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Kudzwai Dube. Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Cebo Dlamini, 19 Johan Retief, 20 Stephan Smit, 21 Reagan Oranje, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Sango Xamlashe.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Sibongile Novuka, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Nizaam Carr, ‘6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Barend Smit, 23 Cornal Hendricks.