Sibusiso Sangweni and Godlen Masimla are named in the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers starting lineup for the first time in this year's Carling Currie Cup when the Wellington side face the Toyota Cheetahs on Sunday in Bloemfontein at 15:00 SAST.
"A few players sustained injuries against the Lions; up front, there are Dayan [van der Westhuizen] and Darnell Osuagwu," says Hawies Fourie, head coach of the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers. "Darnell is out for about a week. Khwezi Mafu is sidelined for a week or two; Sibusiso will replace him in the starting lineup."
This game is a significant milestone for Fourie; it will be his 50th match as head coach of the Kavaliers since reuniting with his old team in January 2024.
Masimla will team up with Ashlon Davids, while Lunathi Nxele and Chris Smit form the centre combination. Domenic Smit returns to the match-day squad after being withdrawn ahead of the Fidelity ADT Lions due to a suspected flu bug.
Jayden Bantom shifts to the left wing, and Cornell Engelbrecht, who is named on the right wing, gets his second Currie Cup cap.
"In the backline, Chris Smit has recovered from bronchitis and is ready to go; he will start at inside centre. Domenic Smit has recovered from the flu that kept him out last week, so he will start at fullback, with Jayden Bantom moving back to the left wing. We have had a good week of preparation and are looking forward to the match in Bloemfontein."
Alistair Vermaak returns to the starting lineup for the first time since Round Two. Vermaak, who joined the Kavaliers after spending 15 years at neighbouring DHL Stormers and Western Province, will pack down with Joshua Eras (hooker) and Mthokozisi Gumede (tighthead).
Gumede shifts to the tighthead after Dayan sustained an injury within seconds of last week's kick-off. Sidney Tobias will get his first taste of this year's Currie Cup should he be introduced off the bench. Tobias, Heiko Pohlmann, and Dewald Maritz have all been named among the replacements providing front row cover.
Sangweni will don the number eight jersey, and teams up with Gift Dlamini and Kwanda Dimaza to form a new-look loose trio with Khwezi Mafu sidelined with a thigh injury, and Dimaza shifts from number eight to openside flank.
Marlyn Williams, who will be making his 99th appearance for the Kavaliers, will once again team up with Johnré Stopforth in the second row. Michael Benadie is named in the match-day 23 for the first time in this year's Currie Cup; he, along with Jeandré Leonard and Thurlow Marsh, provides cover for the rest of the forward pack.
Ceres hero Bentley Geldenhuys and James Tedder will provide the cover on the bench, which head coach Hawies Fourie has gone for a 6-2 split.
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers: 15 Domenic Smit, 14 Cornell Engelbrecht, 13 Lunathi Nxele, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Jayden Bantom, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Sibusiso Sangweni, 7 Kwanda Dimaza, 6 Gift Dlamini, 5 Marlyn Williams (c), 4 Johnré Stopforth, 3 Mthokozisi Gumede, 2 Joshua Eras, 1 Alistair Vermaak. Replacements: 16 Sidney Tobias, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Heiko Pohlmann, 19 Jeandre Leonard, 20 Michael Benadie, 21 Thurlow Marsh, 22 Bentley Geldenhuys, 23 James Tedder.