Still reeling from their big loss against the Lions, Abrie Minnie’s Griquas side have been dealt a double blow ahead of their round 3 Currie Cup encounter with the Pumas, in Nelspruit on Friday evening.
Both of last week’s starting halfbacks, scrumhalf Shannon Rick and flyhalf Monty Dumond will miss the trip as a result of flu and injury respectively. Both players, of course, have strong Sharks links. Dumond was a regular for the Durban side in the Currie Cup up until last year, while Rick attended the Academy and played under 21 rugby for the Sharks. The latter’s replacement, former Boland scrumhalf Marnus Hugo, also spent some time down on the East Coast, playing in the same Natal under 19 side as Brad Barritt and Waylon Murray.
Crowd favourite Earl Rose will take over the number 10 jersey from Dumond.
Another former Sharks player, outside centre Jean Stemmt, is rewarded with his first start after spending a few months on the sideline with injury, while yet another ex-Durbanite in Dusty Noble will start on the left wing.
Griquas – 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Richard Lawson, 13 Jean Stemmet, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Dusty Noble, 10 Earl Rose, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Jonathan Mokuena (capt ), 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Justin Downey, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Steph Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Dobson, 17 Jean Botha, 18 Frikkie Spies, 19 Burger Schoeman, 20 Warren Malgas, 21 Matthew Rosslee, 22 Rudi Vogt.
Tweet
After the weekend’s thrashing by the Lions, I just don’t think the Griquas will beat the Pumas 😕
‘Crowd favourite Earl Rose will take over the number 10 jersey from Dumond.’ – Oh my you just made me laugh so hard with that, thanks for starting my day with a good laugh.
@JarsonX (Comment 1) : I’m afraid I don’t see it either. Pumas to take this one
Super Rose will destroy the Pumas Friday then fly over to NZ to beat the All Blacks and he will be home in time to deliver all the chrismas gifts as Santa
@Mutley (Comment 4) : somebody slap him – he’s raving! 🙂
i think the lions might have payed Griquas to take Earl hehehe ..
you see thats why we dont have money 😛
At this rate all my halfbacks in fantasy league are going to be out injured.
Watch Rose play his best game ever.