Sharks ready for rumble
Depleted Cheetahs desperate to show off their sharp claws
THE Sharks host a depleted Free State Cheetahs in a crucial top-of-the-table Currie Cup clash at King’s Park today‚ which will leave one team looking over their shoulders. So far the two teams have five wins apiece from six matches. The Cheetahs top the standings on 25 points while the Sharks are just a point behind. But defeat will allow the chasing pack to close in on one of the two pacesetters for a home semifinal position. For Robert du Preez’s men it’s a must-win home game, while the visitors are down to fringe squad members, with 25 players in Belfast with the Cheetahs’ Pro14 team.
Blitzbok star Chris Dry will captain Free State for the first time.
After starting the season with a defeat in the first round against the Free Staters‚ the Sharks are on a fivematch winning streak. Free State will be hunting their third straight win.
The Sharks have had an edge over the Free State Cheetahs in recent years in Durban‚ where they won four of their last five matches dating back to 2012, but the defending champions will draw inspiration from their victory in Durban last season.
The Sharks made five personnel changes to their run-on team – three of which were injury-enforced – which sees a new front row selected‚ while Keegan Daniel returns to the loose trio and wing Tythan Adams‚ a former Gold Cup star‚ will make his debut.
The first match of the weekend took place in Pretoria last night‚ where the in-form Griquas travelled to face the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, with the hosts chasing a win after a desperate run of four consecutive defeats.
The last time the men from Kimberley beat the Blue Bulls was in 2012 but, with both sides having won only two matches this season‚ both needed a win.
The Golden Lions will look to bounce back from three successive defeats when they take on the Pumas in Johannesburg this afternoon. But they will face tough competition as the visitors are high on confidence after two wins – one of which was a 51point score against the Blue Bulls.
The Golden Lions team shows a number of personnel changes‚ among them the return of number eight Ryan Kankowski and wing Madosh Tambwe to the starting team‚ while the bench has been boosted with the inclusion of Springbok Sevens player Branco du Preez.
The Pumas‚ meanwhile‚ made only two injury-enforced changes, with loose forward Willie Engelbrecht and flyhalf Kobus Marais replacing Francois Kleinhans and Justin van Staden respectively.
The Golden Lions v Pumas match kicks off at Ellis Park at 2pm, with the Sharks v Free State Cheetahs game getting under way at King’s Park at 4.15pm. — TimesLIVE