Photo Credit: Speedshots.co.za
Courtney Winnaar will lead Eastern Province for a second time in a week when they host Tafel Lager Griquas in their 2021 Kick-off Pools match at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium today at 19h00.
Griquas will travel to Gqerbertha positive to record their first win of the delayed 2020/21 season. Griquas lost 32-38 to the Stormers a week ago while the Elephants lost 24-54 against a youthful Lions team.
Although the heart with which the Elephants played against the Lions, Griquas know the shortcomings of the Elephants and will exploit it fully.
The quality of the Elephants pack of forwards is unfortunately not good enough to compete and we can expect Griquas to keep the ball in the front during most of the game, while the boot of Thinus de Beer will dictate play. Expect Griquas to win with a big margin.
Winnaar, who was handed the captaincy in the previous outing, will move from fullback to flyhalf (in place of Karlo Aspeling) in a team that shows nine changes from the Lions clash as EP coach Peter de Villiers juggled between form, fitness and depth in his squad.
Winnaar will combine with Richman Gora, the third scrumhalf used by De Villiers in as many matches, with the former SA Schools No 9 coming into the side for Josh Allderman, who drops back to the bench for the clash.
Injuries ruled out Siya Nzuzo (loosehead prop), Arnold Kleyn (lock) and CJ Velleman (flank) and they will be replaced by Marzuq Maarman, Mncedisi Dlwengu and Diego Williams respectively.
Maarman will form a new front row with Robin Stevens and Lumpumlo Mguca, who are both recalled from the bench.
De Villiers again named only two backs on his bench with Allderman and Josia Twum-Boafo doing duty. The inclusion of Keanu Vers at fullback and Riaan Arends on the wing will bring experience and maturity to the outside backs.
Tafel Lager Griquas made seven changes to their starting team. The changes up-front sees Tijde Visser pack down at tighthead prop, while Ewan Coetzee replaces Mzwanele Zito at lock, and Gideon van der Merwe takes over at flank, which sees Carl Els move to the back of the scrum.
There were also three personnel changes in the backline where former SA Schools flyhalf Tinus de Beer gets a run in place of the experienced George Whitehead, and wingers Enver Brandt and Daniel Kasende take over from Eduan Keyter and Ederies Arendse respectively.
Whitehead's unavailability, due to injury, means Stefan Ungerer will take over the captaincy from his halfback partner.
Eastern Province: 15 Keanu Vers, 14 Riaan Arends, 13 Athi Mayinye, 12 Sherwin Slater, 11 Christopher Hollis, 10 Courtney Winnaar (captain), 9 Richman Gora, 8 Zingisa April, 7 Anele Lungisa, 6 Diego Williams, 5 Mncedisi Dlwengu, 4 Athenkosi Khetani, 3 Lumpumlo Mguca, 2 Robin Stevens, 1 Marzuq Maarman. Replacements: 16 Sithembiso Befile, 17 Lyle Lombaard, 18 Emile Lombaard, 19 Ronald Scheckle, 20 Bevin Prinsloo, 21 Athi Manentsa, 22 Josh Allderman, 23 Josia Twum-Boafo.
Tafel Lager Griquas: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Michal Haznar, 12 Andre Swarts, 11 Enver Brandt, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Stefan Ungerer (captain), 8 Carl Els, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Ewan Coetzee, 3 Tijde Visser, 2 Alandre van Rooyen, 1 Mox Mxoli. Replacements (from): 16 HJ Luus, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 John-Roy Jenkinson, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Adre Smith, 21 Ashlon Davids, 22 Johnathan Francke, 23 James Verity-Amm, 24 Bandisa Ndlovu, 25 Raegan Oranje, 26 Harlon Klaasen.