Tafel Lager Griquas host the DHL Stormers in Kimberley today in the first match of round 2 of the Preparation Series. The match at Tafel Lager Park kicks off at 16h45.
Griquas lost 10-35 against the Sharks last weekend while the DHL Stormers lost 33-34 against the Cheetahs. Griquas is still looking for their first win in the 2020/2021 season.
Although the Stormers do no travel to Kimberley with their "best" team they still have more than enough talent to test and beat Griquas.
It al will start at the front row who showed against the Cheetahs that they can create a brilliant platform for their exciting backs to launch attacks from, however, their value to "earn" convertible penalties is as valuable.
Kade Wolhuter at flyhalf has shown he has the boot to convert any opportunities into points but also can control the run of the game for his team. The Stormers have in Leolin Zas, Ruhan Nel and Sergeal Petersen more than enough speed to score scintillating tries.
Griquas on the other hand must ensure quality ball in the set phases to allow their attacking players to cause an "upset."
Michal Haznar has returned to Griquas from Cape Town and will start against his former team-mates today. Haznar, who first made his mark in the FNB Varsity Cup for Maties, is on loan in Kimberley, where he played senior provincial rugby before. He starts at the outside centre in place of Harlon Klaasen.
The inclusion of Haznar in the backline is one of four changes Tafel Lager Griquas coach Scott Mathie has made to the starting team.
Masixole Banda comes in at fullback for James Verity-Amm, Ederies Arendse will run out at right-wing replacing Daniel Kasende, and Carl Els gets a start at flank, as Gideon van der Merwe is sitting out due to an injury.
Klaasen and Kasende are included on the bench.
Outside backs Sergeal Petersen and Sihle Njezula come into the DHL Stormers starting line-up for their 2021 Kick-Off Pools match against Tafel Lager Griquas in Kimberley on Tuesday.
Petersen is at fullback in place of the injured Tristan Leyds and Njezula gets an opportunity on the right-wing for the preparation match, which kicks off at 16h45 on Tuesday at Tafel Lager Park and will be live on SuperSport.
There are several changes on the replacements bench, with props Kwenzo Blose and Lee-Marvin Mazibuko along with Evan Roos (loose forward) and Chris Schreuder (flyhalf) all set to make an impact later in the game.
DHL Stormers coach Rito Hlungwani said that the trip up to Kimberley will be a challenge that the players must embrace.
"Tafel Lager Griquas are always highly motivated when they play us and we are looking forward to rising to meet that challenge," said Hlungwani.
"It has been a good week of preparations and everyone is excited to get to Kimberley and show what we have planned," he said.
Tafel Lager Griquas: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Michal Haznar, 12 Andre Swarts, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 George Whitehead (captain), 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Siba Qoma, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Carl Els, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Alandre van Rooyen, 1 Mox Mxoli. Replacements (from): 16 HJ Luus, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Tijde Visser, 19 Ewan Coetzee, 20 Jo-Hanko de Villiers, 21 Ashlon Davids, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Daniel Kasende, 24 Bandisa Ndlovu, 25 Raegan Oranje, 26 Harlon Klaasen.
DHL Stormers: 15 Sergeal Petersen, 14 Sihle Njezula, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 David Meihuizen, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Ali Vermaak. Replacements (from): 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Evan Roos, 20 Ernst van Rhyn, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Chris Schreuder, 23 Edwill van der Merwe, 24 Sazi Sandi, 25 Abner van Reenen.