Injuries force two changes on Sharks
IT’S been a whirlwind week for new Sharks recruit SP Marais, who recently arrived in Durban, and after just a handful of training sessions with his new team, will start on the wing in tomorrow evening’s Currie Cup clash against the Lions at King’s Park.
Marais enjoyed a standout season for the Southern Kings during Super Rugby, having caught the eye with a number of impressive performances in the No 15 jersey.
As it’s turned out, his arrival has proven to be a timely one, following injuries to wingers S’bura Sithole (broken hand) and Sizo Maseko, who picked up a slight hamstring niggle in his Sharks debut last Friday.
Marais will come in for Maseko, in one of just two injury-enforced changes to the Sharks team.
“SP only arrived late last week, but he’s raring to go. We’re looking forward to seeing him in action,” coach Brad Macleod-Henderson said.
In the second change, up-andcoming youngster Heimar Williams replaces Tim Whitehead after the unlucky inside centre aggravated a rib muscle injury in last Friday’s match.
“Heimar’s a quality player, he played for the Sharks under-21s last year and captained the team. He’s an intelligent rugby player and it will be good to see what he can do,” added the Sharks coach. SHARKS: 15 Odwa Ndungane, 14 SP Marais, 13 Louis Ludik, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Butch James, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Jacques Botes ( captain), 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Brynard Stander, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 Edwin Hewitt, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick. Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Rayno Gerber, 18 Peet Marais, 19 Tera Mtembu, 20 Cobus Reinach, 21 Fred Zeilinga, 22 Jaco van Tonder LIONS: 15 Marnitz Boshoff, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Robert de Bruin, 12 Dylan des Fountain, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Guy Cronje, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Derick Minnie (captain), 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Chris van Zyl, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 Jacques van Rooyen. Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Lambert Groenewald, 19 Warwick Tecklenburg, 20 Tian Meyer, 21 Lionel Cronje, 22 Crysander Botha