The Hollywoodbets Sharks Under 21s travel to Potchefstroom take on the Leopards in a round five SA Rugby Under 21 Cup clash on Saturday afternoon.
Once again, head coach JP Pietersen has selected a number of under 19 players to join with their slightly older team-mates, installing hooker Christian Everitt, flank Matt Romao, flyhalf Chris Horak, and wing Maurice Willemse into the starting line-up.
Pietersen will be hoping for a big performance from his young charges in this game that marks the end of the first half of the tournament, with three home games coming in the second half.
The Leopards are winless in the tournament, having lost all four of their matches to date this season. The men from Potchefstroom have been particularly punished on the scoreboard, losing by an average of close on 40 points per game and the Durban side will look to exploit their opponents’ defence.
Losses of 67-10 to the Blue Bulls in round one and 77-5 to Western Province last week would have put a huge dent in the Leopards’ morale and this is something coach Pietersen would have considered in his planning for this game.
With Free State breathing down the Hollywoodbets Sharks Under 21s necks on the log table, an emphatic victory will not only help their cause on the competition, but also add a measure of confidence to their game.
Saturday’s clash at Olen Park kicks off at 12:00 noon.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks Under 21s
- Phatu Ganyane
- Christian Everitt*
- Mawande Mdande
- Van Heerden Pretorius*
- Hennie Sieberhagen
- Matt Romao*
- Meno Barnard
- Jannes Potgieter (Captain)
- Juan Loots*
- Chris Horak*
- Maurice Willemse*
- Albie Bester*
- Scott Nel*
- Jaco Williams*
- Hakeem Kunene
Replacements
- Andrew Davis
- Bradley Stanfliet
- Siyabonga Dube
- Ulrich van der Westhuizen*
- Yabo Ndzamela
- Ceano Everson*
- Stehan Heymans
- Henrico Germishuizen*
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