The second match 2021 Carling Currie Cup semi-final which is scheduled to kick-off at 17h00 in Durban on Saturday, will see Tafel Lager Griquas play in their first semi-final since 2019, and only their third appearance in the top-four since the game turned professional in the mid-1990s.
Scott Mathie and his men face a tough task at Jonsson Kings Park, despite the Cell C Sharks’ home defeat last weekend, as Sean Everitt’s team have shown glimpses of brilliant form throughout a season that was disrupted by the unrest in KwaZulu-Natal, which has cost the Durbanites some momentum.
But Tafel Lager Griquas will arrive in Durban with the knowledge that nothing is impossible as they beat the Cell C Sharks at Jonsson Kings Park earlier this season – by 37-27 in round eight – after the KwaZulu-Natalians won by 30-16 in Kimberley in the opening round of the competition.
The Cell C Sharks enjoyed a successful campaign during the pool stages of this year’s Carling Currie Cup, enough to secure the home semi-final that sees them hosting the Tafel Lager Griquas at Jonsson Kings Park on Saturday.
Griquas have always been competitive in the early stages of the tournament before dropping off the pace, but this year have been a revelation for their fans.
Head coach Sean Everitt is full of praise for the team from Kimberley as he looks ahead to the big match and warns that they will present a formidable opposition to his team’s quest for silverware.
“They’ve done exceptionally well under Scott Mathie to get into the semi-finals, they’ve been consistent throughout the competition, week-in and week-out and they’ve rolled over the big boys on a couple of occasions. They’ve beaten the Lions, Western Province as well as the Cell C Sharks so we know this is a big challenge.”
While Everitt warned that Griquas pose a massive threat, he backs his team to achieve the necessary result if they perform to their ability.
“The last time they came to Durban, they had a good outing against us and won that game 37-30, so we are going to have to prepare well but if we do stick to the plan and we play according to our potential, we should be in the final.”
In his efforts to maintain continuity, Everitt has made just two changes to last week’s side, one amongst the forwards and the other in the backline, with Dylan Richardson returning for James Venter on the side of the scrum and Marius Louw taking over from Murray Koster at inside centre.
Tafel Lager Griquas' head coach Scott Mathie made only two changes to the starting line-up of the team that drew with the Pumas last weekend. Tafel Lager Griquas will travel to Durban to play the Cell C Sharks @ 17h00 on Saturday in the second semi-final.
At the back, Daniel Kasende replaces James-Verity Amm while Janco Uys replaces Alandre van Rooyen at hooker.
Cell C Sharks: 15. Curwin Bosch, 14. Yaw Penxe, 13. Werner Kok, 12. Marius Louw, 11. Thaakir Abrahams, 10. Lionel Cronje, 9. Sanele Nohamba, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi (c), 7. Henco Venter, 6. Dylan Richardson, 5. Gerbrandt Grobler, 4. Le Roux Roets, 3. Khutha Mchunu, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 1. Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16. Dan Jooste, 17. Khwezi Mona, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Reniel Hugo, 20. Thembelani Bholi, 21. Cameron Wright, 22. Jeremy Ward, 23. Anthony Volmink.
Tafel Lager Griquas: 15. Ashlon Davids, 14. Daniel Kasende, 13. Chris Hollis, 12. Johnathan Francke, 11. Eduan Keyter, 10. George Whitehead, 9. Stefan Ungerer, 8. Ruan Steenkamp ©, 7. Hanru Sirgel, 6. Gideon van der Merwe, 5. Stefan Willemse, 4. Adre Smith, 3. Erich de Jager, 2. Janco Uys, 1. Mox Mxoli. Replacements: 16. Alandre van Rooyen, 17. Andrew Beerwinkel, 18. Janu Botha, 19. Cameron Lindsay, 20. Johan Momsen, 21. Raegan Oranje, 22. Tinus de Beer, 23. Ederies Arendse, 24. Andrew Kuhn, 25. Mzwanele Zito, 26. Andre Swarts.