Sharks lose Buthelezi for Province clash
The Cell C Sharks will be without their Carling Currie Cup
captain Phepsi Buthelezi due to concussion when they face Western Province at
the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday.
Buthelezi produced another strong performance in the Sharks first match of the Currie Cup – a bonus point win over Griquas in Kimberley and the side will be disappointed to not have him.
Replacing him in the number eight jersey is another exciting youngster – a team-mate of Buthelezi’s at Durban High School – Mpilo Gumede.
There are two other changes to the starting XV, live-wire wing Thaakir Abrahams starts in place of the injured Anthony Volmink while Curwin Bosch returns to action after a week off last week.
It’s a blow losing the captain for the clash, but coach Sean
Everitt believes he will be fit for the clash against the British and Irish
Lions.
“He’s almost there and I presume that he will be ready for the match against
the British and Irish Lions and it’s not worth taking the risk,” Everitt said.
“He feels 100 percent, but he didn’t pass all the tests and hopefully he will be back and able to travel with us on Friday.”
The Sharks face Province on Wednesday and then head into their bio-bubble ahead of their match against the British and Irish Lions next Wednesday.
Given the ongoing uncertainty around the Covid-19 pandemic and the national frenzy around the Lions tour, Everitt believes the players know how to come to terms with an ever-changing situation.
“I think the guys have learnt to take everything day by day and deal with disruptions.
“Even with the British and Irish Lions being the main focus at the moment it’s important that the Sharks stay focused on the job at hand and that’s to reach the play-offs of the Currie Cup.”
Despite this only being the second clash of a double round Currie Cup, Everitt doesn’t believe that any game is less crucial than the next.
“Every game is important and all the points you can accumulate now certainly relieves the pressure later on.
“We judge ourselves on our performance and we are certainly going out there to win every game that we play,” he added.
The kick-off at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday has been scheduled for 7pm, however due to the revised lockdown protocol this could well change with the curfew in force from 9pm.
Cell C Sharks v DHL Western Province
1. Khwezi Mona, 2. Fez Mbatha, 3. Khutha Mchunu, 4. Ruben
van Heerden, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. James Venter, 7. Thembelani Bholi, 8. Mpilo
Gumede, 9. Jaden Hendrikse, 10. Curwin Bosch, 11. Thaakir Abrahams, 12. Marius
Louw, 13. Jeremy Ward (c), 14. Werner Kok, 15. Manie Libbok
Replacements
16. Dan Jooste, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Wiehahn Herbst, 19.
JJ van der Mescht, 20. Reniel Hugo, 19. Dylan Richardson, 22. Grant Williams,
23. Boeta Chamberlain
