In yet another fairytale return, forgotten Springbok wing Jongi Nokwe will make his debut for the Cell C Sharks XV when they take on the Golden Lions in Friday’s Vodacom Cup quarter final.
The 32-year-old has been playing for Jonsson College Rovers for the past few seasons and will finally make an appearance in the black and white, taking over from Sizo Maseko at right wing.
Jaco van Tonder starts at fullback in place of Sean Robinson as one of two further backline changes; Stefan Ungerer takes over from Shannon Rick at scrumhalf in the other.
Up front, Mox Msoli start at loosehead prop in place of Thomas du Toit, who is on tour with the Sharks. Danie Mienie comes into the squad as cover. Also back in the mix is Franco Marais, wearing the number 16 jersey after a surprise Super Rugby appearance last week. Peet Marais replaces Nikolai Blignaut in the starting lineup at lock, while Francois Kleinhans trades places with Justin Downey to start at blindside flank.
Cameron Wright is in line to make his debut for the side, picked as scrumhalf cover ahead of Hanco Venter.
The match takes place on KP2 and kicks off at 3pm on Friday.
The Cell C Sharks XV
15. Jaco van Tonder
14. Jongi Nokwe
13. Quinton Crocker
12. Andre Esterhuizen
11. Alcino Izaacs
10. Jean Luc du Plessis
9. Stefan Ungerer
8. Johan Meyer
7. Francois Kleinhans
6. Khaya Majola
5. Peet Marais
4. Edwin Hewitt
3. Wiehahn Herbst
2. Monde Hadebe (Captain)
1. Sangoni Moxoli
Replacements
16. Franco Marais
17. Danie Mienie
18. Nikolai Blignaut
19. Justin Downey
20. Cameron Wright
21. Sandile Kubeka
22. Sean Robinson
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How did Nokwe’s fall from grace transpire? Haven’t heard his name in ages!
Lekka man Jongikaya! Couldn’t make the Griffons team a little while ago and now in the Sharks squad for a semi final. Kwaai!
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 2) : Stem saam.
Not a bad team, hope they cam beat the Lions. Would be interesting to see Nokwe, did not look to bad at club champs but was not super either.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 2) : Saw him play in the Community Cup I think. He was a shadow of the player that injured his knee. He has never regained that form again. Hope he can for the Sharks.
Nokwe made his international debut against Argentina on 9 August 2008 and scored a try as the Springboks won 63–9. In only his third game, he became the first Springbok player to score four tries against the Wallabies in a test match in a 53–8 victory at Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg before injuring his leg.
more….http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jongi_Nokwe
Seems the game will not be on SuperSport. Pity was looking forward to watching another 4 hours of Friday Sharks rugby!!!!!
@KingCheetah (Comment 5) : Thanks bud, pity he fell that far. Was a great player while still at Boland
@JD (Comment 7) : yeah, apparently the Sharks are doing pitch maintenance, so they had to move the game from the main field to KP2.
Hence the revised kick-off time and lack of TV coverage.
@robdylan (Comment 9) : thats a real pity, but hey looking at last week it seems as if the Sharks XV do their best work if the game is not shown on TV. Go Sharks!!!!!!!!!
@JD (Comment 10) : or rather there is nobody to see how badly they’re playing 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 11) : no you’re wrong and I’m right! !!! They’re playing better when games are not televised.
the game just kicked off.
Here is the Lions lineup.
Wynand Willis; JR Esterhuizen, Stokkies Hanekom, Harold Vorster, Selom Gavor; Willie du Plessis, Ricky Schroeder ©; Ruaan Lerm, Cyle Brink, Stephan de Witt, Hugo Kloppers, Thabo Mamojele, Charles Marais, Malcolm Marx, Dylan Smith. Reserwes: Mark Pretorius, Nico du Plessis, Lourens Erasmus, Thabo Mabuza, Guy Cronjé, Marais Schmidt, Caswell Khoza.
Anyone at the game? Come on Sharks XV!!!
Sharks XV 3 – 0 up. Penalty van Tonder
still 3-0, 10 minutes gone
@robdylan (Comment 16) : thanx, where you following?
penalty Lions. 3-all
@JD (Comment 17) : twitter
TRY PLANK MEYER!!!!!
Conversion Jaco Baardman van Tonder.
Sharks XV 10 – 3 Lions
Another penalty to Jaco “the beard” van Tonder.
Cell C Sharks XV 13 – 3 Lions
@robdylan (Comment 21) : nice, thanks Rob.
@robdylan (Comment 21) : 😀
30 minutes gone, still 13-3
@robdylan (Comment 25) : go Sharks!!!
Lions strike back just before half time… try Stokkies Hanekom. Sharks XV 13 – 10 Lions
13-10 is the half time score
@robdylan (Comment 28) : thanx. Hope that they can do what the Super rugby side did and step it up in the second half for the win.
We should be thumping this Lions team. They got a pasting from the Pumas last weekend, are 4th in their conference and we won ours. Maybe the disruption of losing players to the senior side is having a bigger effect than I thought would be the case.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 30) : maybe if they didn’t make 7 changes to the team each week….
@robdylan (Comment 31) : yes it’s not easy coaching the “B-team” alway lose players to the “A-team” when and where needed and you must win games with what’s left.
Lions hit the front…. try Wynand Willis.
Sharks XV 13 – 15 Lions
@robdylan (Comment 33) : shit!!! Come on Sharks!!!!!
Good conversion
Sharks XV 13 – 17 Lions
and another converted try and it’s all over.
Sharks XV 13 – 24 Lions
@robdylan (Comment 31) : That cant help.
Sharks XV 13 – 27 Lions
and they have lost 20-27, pitty
Damn 🙁
@robdylan (Comment 38) : @BR (Comment 39) : @Son Of Mayhem (Comment 40) : pity Sharks XV always comes close but manage to lose it.
I have a big smile on my face :). Ok enough bragging. Congratz on the win Lions and congratz to the Sharks for reaching the quaters.
@Mutley (Comment 42) : why the smile?
@JD (Comment 43) : I’m a Lions supporter and I always smile when the Lions win. Ps I don’t smile a lot
@Mutley (Comment 44) : congrats on your team winning!!! Enjoy the smile.