Bosch returns to take on Province
IN these crazy times for South African rugby, it can’t be easy for the Currie Cup teams to remain focused on their job at hand and one wonders how many fans are even aware that the Sharks play Western Province at the Cape Town Stadium tomorrow?
The Sharks, themselves, must feel like they are on a merry-go-round.
They are in Durban today, in Cape Town tomorrow and on Friday they travel to Johannesburg to go into the bio-bubble ahead of their match against the British and Irish Lions at Emirates Airline Park next Wednesday.
Sharks coach Sean Everitt says the players have been told to keep their eye on the ball, especially when to comes to staying Covid-free.
“There is a lot of excitement in South African rugby at the moment and now Covid has thrown a spanner in the works (with the third wave peaking) but we have learned to deal with disruption — we have had quite a few curve balls come our way (post lockdown) and got through it ...The most important thing is to stay safe and follow the protocols.
“The Lions tour is the talk of South African rugby but we must focus on the job at hand and that is to make the play-offs of the Currie Cup,” the coach added.
Everitt has brought back Curwin Bosch for the match after having rested him for the Sharks’ first-round victory over Griquas.
Bosch has carried a heavy workload for the Sharks since rugby resumed after lockdown and was given a deserved break, but otherwise Everitt has been picking his strongest possible team and this is again the case for the trip to the Cape Town Stadium.
Apart from Bosch taking over from Boeta Chamberlain, who is on the bench this week, the changes to the side are injury-enforced.
At No 8, Phepsi Buthelezi is suffering concussion and is replaced by youngster Mpilo Gumede, Buthelezi’s former teammate at Durban High School and also in the unbeaten Sharks Under-19 team of 2018.
The change at No 8 means a new captain and the responsibility once more goes to Jeremy Ward, who partners Marius Louw in the midfield.
On the left wing, Thaakir Abrahams replaces injured Anthony Volmink.
In backing the youth in his selections, Everitt commented: “We have to look at the Currie Cup in two ways: we want to win it, make no mistake about it, but at the same time, we do have to grow our squad and this double-round competition does allow us to give opportunities to players because you can always rectify results if one week it doesn’t go your way.”
Sharks Starting XV: Manie Libbok, Werner Kok, Jeremy Ward (capt), Marius Louw, Thaakier Abrahams, Curwin Bosch, Jaden Hendrikse; Mpilo Gumede, Thembelani Bholi, James Venter, Hyron Andrews, Ruben van Heerden, Khutha Mchunu, Fez Mbatha, Khwezi Mona
Replacements: Dan Jooste, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Wiehahn Herbst, JJ van der Mescht, Reniel Hugo, Dylan Richardson, Grant Williams, Boeta Chamberlain