Kimberley will stage the weekend’s last fixture when Windhoek Draught Griquas and Cell C Sharks clash in the Diamond City on Sunday at 16h05.
Pieter Bergh’s outfit will seek an immediate positive reaction on their home ground, while Joey Mongalo’s side will in turn target a much better start against the tricky side from the Northern Cape.
The Durbanites won both last season’s clashes between the sides, including a close-fought 24-23 victory on the east coast, while they have edged their Kimberley opponents by three games to two in this fixture in the last few years.
Windhoek Draught Griquas coach Pieter Bergh said that “The South African teams learnt a lot from the URC, especially at the breakdown.”
“The challenge for us, against the Sharks, is the breakdown, especially with guys like Dylan Richardson and James Venter. Then, also, the kicking game, the other area where we fell short against the Cheetahs. we have to be aware of that against the Sharks, who kicked 38 times against the Griffons last week.”
Pieter Bergh made only three changes to his starting line-up.
Up front Gustav de Rand (hooker) and Junior Banda (tighthead) join Kudzwai Dube in an almost new frontrow while Carl Els replaces Janco Venter at Eight.
Sango Xamlashe is replaced by Jay-Cee Nel at the outside centre to make way for Malcolm Jaer at fullback.
The Cell C Sharks head coach Joey Mongalo made wholesale changes to his squad to travel to the Northern Cape on Sunday to face the Windhoek Draught Griquas.
Only Fez Mbatha(Hooker) and Khwezi Mona (loosehead) survived the cut. At the back, there is a new halfback pairing, Cameron Wright and Fred Zeilinga took over from Zee Mkhabela and Lionel Cronje while Marnus Potgieter was shifted to the wing in place of Anthony Volmink to make place for Francois Venter at inside centre, with captain Murray Koster shifting to the outside centre. The final change sees Thaakir Abrahams replacing the injured Nevaldo Fleurs at fullback.
“They have a pretty good allround game,” Mongalo said. “They are a solid defensive unit as well. I won’t be sleeping well before Sunday, as they will challenge us and I know exactly what is coming.”
Teams:
Windhoek Draught Griquas: 15 Malcolm Jaer 14. Rosko Specman, 13. Jay-Cee Nel, 12. Zander du Plessis, 11. Luther Obi, 10. Lubabalo Dobela, 9. Johan Mulder, 8. Carl Els, 7. Stephan Smit (c), 6. Niel Otto, 5. Derik Pretorius, 4. Albert Liebenberg, 3. Junior Banda, 2. Gustav du Randt, 1. Kudzwai Dube. Replacements: 16. Janco Uys, 17. Eddie Davids, 18. Cebo Dlamini, 19. Janco Venter, 20. Hanru Surgel, 21. Bobby Alexander, 22. George Whitehead, 23. Eddie Fouche.
Cell C Sharks: 15. Thaakir Abrahams, 14. Yaw Penxe, 13. Murray Koster (c), 12. Francois Venter, 11. Marnus Potgieter, 10. Fred Zeilinga, 9. Cameron Wright, 8. Henco Venter, 7. Dylan Richardson, 6. James Venter, 5. Reniel Hugo, 4. Hyron Andrews, 3. Hanro Jacobs, 2. Fez Mbatha, 1. Khwezi Mona. Replacements: 16. Dan Jooste, 17. Dian Bleuler, 18. Khutha Mchunu, 19. Athenkosi Khethani, 20. Marco de Witt, 21. Damon Royle, 22. Bradley Davids, 23. Lionel Cronje.