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Tafel Lager Griquas and the Cell C Sharks will be first out of the blocks on Friday evening in Kimberley, where the hosts will be desperate for their first win of the campaign. This match at Tafel Lager Park game starts at 19h00.
The Cell C Sharks needs a win with a bonus point to keep the pressure on the current log leaders, Vodacom Blue Bulls who have a bye this weekend.
After coming unstuck against the DHL Stormers in their previous outing, the men from Kimberley will be determined to register their first success of the campaign. They are currently at the bottom of the competition log with only two competition points.
They continue the search for their maiden win in Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked, having conceded exactly 100 points across their last two appearances in the competition, so they would want to also improve on their defensive effort.
The Cell C Sharks, meanwhile, have won three of their four games in Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked and lost one, despite having scored more than 20 points only once so far this season.
Tafel Lager Griquas head coach Scott Mathie made several changes to his squad for the weekend.
Upfront, there is a new look lock pairing, with Adré Smith starting at No 5 next to last weekend's replacement lock Cameron Lindsay, who swaps places with Mzwanele Zito. Johan Momsen returns to the No 8 position in a rotational swap with Carl Els, who joins Zito on the bench.
Regular Tafel Lager Griquas skipper George Whitehead returns at flyhalf and resumes the captaincy duties as last weekend’s starting flyhalf, Tinus de Beer, is now slated to come off the bench.
Jeremy Ward, who co-captained the side in last year’s Currie Cup with Tera Mtembu, will lead a Cell C Sharks team that shows a number of changes, hoping to make it three wins in three outings.
After playing off the bench in the last few games, Kerron van Vuuren comes in for Daniel Jooste at hooker, while Ruben van Heerden is back in the second row after two starts for JJ van der Mescht.
In the backrow, James Venter is in for Dylan Richardson with Thembelani Bholi earning a first start and Phepsi Buthelezi completing the loose trio.
Tafel Lager Griquas: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Harlon Klaasen, 12 Johnathan Francke, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 George Whitehead (captain), 9 Zak Burger, 8 Johan Momsen, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 HJ Luus, 1 Mox Mxoli. Replacements (from): 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Madot Mabokela, 19 Carl Els, 20 CJ Velleman, 21 Theo Maree, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Daniel Kasende, 24 Bandisa Ndlovu, 25 Ewan
Coetzee, 26 Ashlon Davids.
Cell C Sharks: 15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Jeremy Ward (captain), 12 Marius Louw, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 John-Hubert Meyer, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Daniel Jooste, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Khwezi Mona, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Sbu Nkosi.