EP Kings coach Barend Pieterse has made a number of changes to his side for their next Currie Cup match against the Cell C Sharks at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban this Saturday.
Pieterse’s men enjoyed a well-deserved break this past weekend after a rough couple of weeks, which included three matches in eight days. After losing to Boland and the Blue Bulls in Round 2 and 3 respectively, they faced Western Province, Griquas and Cheetahs in their last three matches which were crammed into just eight days.
Pieterse opted for a completely new front row than the one that went down 25 – 57 against the Free State Cheetahs a fortnight ago.
Justin Forwood moves from loose head to tight head to replace Vukile Sofisa, who moves down to the bench. Barend Potgieter moves up from the bench to fill in at loose head. Martin Bezuidenhout replaces Mike Willemse, who has been recalled by Western Province, at hooker and will also take over the vice-captaincy.
Brandon Brown is the only other replacement amongst the forwards, replacing Etienne Oosthuizen at openside flank.
Amongst the backs, former Sharks mid-fielder Waylon Murray comes in to replace Burton Klaasen at inside centre. Klaasen moves to outside centre where he replaces JC Greyling.
In the final change to the starting line-up, utility back Lungelo Gosa comes up from the bench where he replaces Johann Tromp.
The bench also sees two new faces in Minenhle Mthethwa and Alcino Isaacs who replaces Kobus Marais and Ganfried May respectively.
EP Kings:
1 Barend Potgieter 2 Martin Bezuidenhout (vc) 3 Justin Forwood 4 Dylan Pieterse 5 Sebastian Ferreira 6 Vincent Jhobo 7 Brandon Brown 8 Christiaan De Bruin 9 Ricky Schroeder (c) 10 Pieter-Steyn de Wet 11 Sampie Mastriet 12 Waylon Murray 13 Burton Klaasen 14 Siwivive Soyizwapi 15 Lungelo Gosa
Replacements:
16 Warrick Venter 17 Vukile Sofisa 18 Etienne Oosthuizen 19 Luke van der Smit 20 Vian van der Watt 21 Minenhle Mthethwa 22 Alcino Isaacs
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There seems to be another chance of rain and damp conditions for the game on Saturday. Looking at this side i cant honestly say it looks anything more than a club side really. Only some ex sharks may add spice but other than that the Sharks would have to be very poor to lose
Going to be fun if both side have an Etienne Oosthuizen on the field!!!
@SheldonK (Comment 1) : ja on paper the Sharks should get a bonus point victory against this side BUT rugby is not played on paper!!! Sharks needs to score a lot of points early to try and break any confidence and resistance that the Kings might have!
@JD (Comment 3) : 100%
@JD (Comment 3) : seconded
I just saw the ref and assistants for the Shark game…im not sure im going to be watching as this could be a horrible game, especially if it rains
@SheldonK (Comment 6) : Who are they? Please not Rasta again
@KingRiaan (Comment 7) : Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry, Archie Sehlako
TMO: Willie Vos
@SheldonK (Comment 8) : Willie Vos?
Aggenee
@SheldonK (Comment 8) : don’t know him. Hope he’s better than previous one.
@robdylan (Comment 9) : @JD (Comment 10) : The games ive seen Jadezweni ref ive cringed most of the game…very out of his depth