Andre Esterhuizen, who missed out on the Sharks under 21s last match (an ugly loss to the Lions at Ellis Park) will again wear the number 12 jersey tomorrow, as his team take on Free State at Kings Park.
Having lost ground on the log due to a string of sub-par performance, the highly-rated Sharks side simply has to win tomorrow in order to remain in contention for the title and with Esterhuizen now back, can have no excuses about being under-strength this week. Coach Etienne Fynn has read the riot act to his players and none should be under any illusion regarding the level of tolerance for another performance like the one dished up in Johannesburg a fortnight ago.
Zimbabwean Gareth Meikle drops to the wood this week, giving up the jersey to Esterhuizen (the tournament’s leading try scorer). Unlucky Mike Bernardt drops out of the 22 as a result. Also gone this week are reserve hooker Jacques Taylor (replaced by Greg Bauer) and reserve flanker Murray Bondesio. The latter was one of two fetchers on the bench against the Lions, but makes way for a more conventional second-row replacement in Wade Elliott, back from injury this week.
The match kicks off at 12h30 on Saturday.
15 Sean Robinson, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Tyler Fisher, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Alcino Isaacs, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Guy Alexander, 7 Johan Meyer, 6 Khaya Majola, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Wiehan Hay, 3 Nicolaas van Dyk, 2 Franco Marais (capt), 1 Allan Dell
Subs: 16 Greg Bauer, 17 Simon Kerrod, 18 Wade Elliot , 19 Dylan Nel, 20 Hanco Venter, 21 Duncan Campbell, 22 Gareth Meikle
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Good team that.
Think Im going to have to head down to the tank early to catch this game as well.
@John Galt (Comment 1) : DO IT 🙂
Wish I lived closer to Durbs. Would have loved to spend my whole day there tomorrow and support. Really a good team. Exciting back line.
@Bite me (Comment 3) : I know that feeling
@Bite me (Comment 3) : @robdylan (Comment 4) : Ditto!!!
@R Hayward (Comment 5) : I think if you’re the third person you have to say “thritto”
@robdylan (Comment 6) : And if you’re the fourth?
@Die Kriek (Comment 7) : I’ll let you coin it yourself 🙂
Ah, Andre Esterhuizen, another home grown Shark… lol.
Hey vin if he plays u/19 and u/21 he is home grown.
KZN Duikers beat Griquas 29-26 in the final of the APC rugby week in Kimberley yesterday,they now play WP in Durban on the 5th of October,for any one that is interested.
@bobby 26 (Comment 11) : That’s great news! How did the Wildebeest do?
@Argex (Comment 12) : they beat Griquas 41-12
@Argex (Comment 12) : they lost to the Griffons rural(CD)side by 30 odd in the plate final on Friday.The Griquas side Rob said they beat was the Griquas rural or CD side as we call them,to clear up the confusion,each province had 2 sides there,a rural and a central,the central been the stronger side.
@bobby 26 (Comment 14) : Thanks for that. So our amateur clubs are pretty song here!
@Argex (Comment 15) : compared to the rural areas yes but i think against the bigger towns like Cape Town and JHB we will be found wanting.