Velleman in Griquas starting line-up
Former Southern Kings flank CJ Velleman has been included in the Griquas starting line-up for their bottom-of-the-log Carling Currie Cup clash against the Pumas in Nelspruit on tonight (kickoff 7pm).
Velleman joined the Griquas on a short-term loan in September after he was left unemployed when the Kings were liquidated.
The loose forward will be looking to make the most of his chance to shine as he bids to resuscitate his career after a succession of injuries.
EP Rugby GM Thando Manana says he is negotiating to bring 25-year-old Velleman back to Port Elizabeth when his deal at Griquas ends in January.
“I’m talking to CJ’s agent about his coming home and playing in the red-and-backhooped jersey of the Elephants,” Manana said.
“He is the type of player we want to sign to help us win promotion to the Currie Cup Premier Division.”
Velleman said though he had managed to get a paying contract, he had to take a substantial pay cut to join the Griquas for the Currie Cup.
The thing is that I was going to play for free anywhere, for any big union that took me on board,” Velleman said.
“I was pretty much happy to do that. But Griquas did give me a contract.
“Honestly, it is very, very minimal.
“It is less than my first contract that I signed straight out of school.
“It is just pretty much enough to keep me alive this side.
“But it is just a short-term thing, only until January.”
Velleman has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, but the tenacious forward is ready to make his mark on the rugby scene.
Neither the Griquas nor the Pumas have hit their straps and will be anxious to turn their ailing fortunes around in what promises to be a gritty encounter tonight.
After seven rounds on the combined Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked and Currie log, both teams are lagging behind their rivals.
The Pumas have seven points to their name and the Griquas just four.
In their last game, the Griquas were denied the opportunity to challenge for an upset win over the Lions by the weather in Kimberley.
The Lions were awarded the victory when an approaching thunderstorm forced the players off the field just five minutes into the second half.
When the storm did not subside 30 minutes later, the match was called in favour of the visitors, who led 20-17.
The Kimberley outfit had been in the faces of the Lions throughout the contest, scoring three unanswered tries against the more fancied visitors after 30 minutes.
The Griquas’ try scorers against the Lions were HJ Luus, Eduan Keyter and James Verity-Amm.
After the early Griquas onslaught, the Lions hit back impressively, with two late first-half tries and another one just after the restart.
The Pumas will be looking to lift their game after they crashed to a 45-10 defeat to the Sharks in their last outing.
In the second half, the Pumas upped their game and managed to carry the ball deep into Sharks territory.
Griquas: 1 Mox Mxoli, 2 HJ Luus, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 4 Adre Smith, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 6 CJ Velleman, 7 Stefan Willemse, 8 Johan Momsen, 9 Zak Burger, 10 Tinus de Beer, 11 Eduan Keyter, 12 Johnathan Francke, 13 Berton Klaasen, 14 Daniel Kasende, 15 James Verity-Amm. Subs: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 John-Roy Jenkinson, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Carl Els, 21 Theo Maree, 22 Andre Swarts, 23 Enver Brandt, 24 Zandre Jordaan, 25 Ewan Coetzee, 26 Ashlon Davids.