Sharks coach John Plumtree has resisted the temptation to throw all his returning Springboks into the starting XV for their final regular season Currie Cup encounter against Griquas in Durban on Friday.
Patrick Lambie is the only one of the seven available Boks that have been thrust into the line-up, while hooker Craig Burden, prop Jannie du Plessis, flanker Marcell Coetzee and wingLwazi Mvovo have all been included on the bench.
Springbok regulars Tendai Mtawarira and Willem Albertshave been given a break.
Utility back Lambie has been named at flyhalf, in place of Meyer Bosman, in one of three changes to the side that beat the Free State Cheetahs 37-30 in Bloemfontein last week.
Cobus Reinach also makes the run-on team ahead of Charl McLeod at scrumhalf, while the final change is an enforced one with hooker Pieter Dixon, who fractured his arm, making way for Kyle Cooper.
The table-topping Sharks have already secured a home semi-final by virtue of guaranteeing themselves a place in the top two, but will be looking for one more victory to book a potential home final.
“We’ve put ourselves in a nice position, but we know how tough Griquas are,” Plumtree said.
“They’ve knocked off almost everyone this year, so it’s going to be a tough match.
“We’ve got a lot of respect for them. In the past we haven’t had too much trouble with them, especially here in Durban, but we think this side’s got a little bit more to them.”
Teams:
Sharks:
15 Louis Ludik, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Keegan Daniel (captain), 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Jandre Marais, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Substitutes: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Peet Marais, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Lwazi Mvovo.
Griquas:
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Jannie Boshoff, 13 Jean Stemmet, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Leon Karemaker, 7 Justin Downey, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5Martin Muller, 4 Ligtoring Landman, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes (captain), 1 Steph Roberts.
Substitutes: 16 Matt Dobson, 17 Ivann Espag, 18 Edwin Hewitt, 19 Wesley Wilkins, 20 Jacques Coetzee, 21 Marnitz Boshoff, 22 Richard Lawson.
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October 11th, 2012 at 8:39 am
Commendable and forward thinking by Plumbtree.
Being left stammering and dazed after one of Messerschmitt-Willie’s jellyroll-swerve moves is far less likely to happen to Pat at the 10 spot.
It will allow them to bond better during the Springbok EOYT without all that awkwardness.
October 11th, 2012 at 8:55 am
I take that back. Willie often slots in at 10.
Oh well, at least Plumb tried.
Upon further review, looks like both Ludik & Lambie get to jump on the hand grenade that is Willie LeRoux this weekend.
October 11th, 2012 at 11:45 am
I think I will back the Kiwi coach and I will stay up late for this one.
Come on Pat your destiny is now in your hands, show us why we believe in you. Its times when legends are made booi. Back against the wall, rusty and with some doubters but I hope he does pulls it off.
Ligtoring Landman. Now its all in the name.
October 12th, 2012 at 7:45 am
Lions / Sharks going the player management route. Stormers and Bulls deciding to grind everything from their Boks…
SARU needs to be given a slap alongside the earhole
They should have overhauled the whole CC system and along with it the SR too.
CC needs to regain value for the people who follow smaller unions like the Valke…