The Cell C Sharks kick off their Currie Cup campaign on Saturday when they welcome the NovaVit Griffons to Hollywoodbets Kings Park in the eight team, 14 round tournament.
Cell C Sharks Currie Cup head coach Joey Mongalo has an interesting mix of players at his disposal, having URC players available to help blend with some juniors as well as those out of the club ranks, with centre Murray Koster being entrusted with the captaincy responsibilities.
Opportunities abound and this competition will no doubt see the emergence of unknown stars who can only add to the Cell C Sharks rugby stocks going forward.
“We have quite a combination of players in our team, there’s some players with URC experience, some under 21 players and some from the club system, so we have a wide array of players who haven’t played together and have only trained three or four times together because of the dynamic nature of the Currie Cup set-up; always different, always changing,” explains Mongalo.
“The biggest challenge for us it so see how quickly the group finds cohesion and connection. We’ve been working hard off the field to connect because we haven’t had the opportunity on the field and hopefully that’s an outcome that comes sooner rather than later.
“We have a few experienced guys in the backline and we will rely on them to give us direction and structure.”
Although the Griffons are one of the smaller unions, as last year’s tournament showed, with the final contested between the Pumas and Griquas, the gap is closing and the traditionally ‘bigger unions’ are being thoroughly tested on this stage.
“The Griffons have played a number of friendly matches in preparation for the Currie Cup so they will be well-prepared for this match,” Mongalo warns. “They’ve been together for four months preparing so they will be a well-oiled unit.
“We expect them to be strong defensively, with a strong set-piece and that translates into an organised team, one we cannot even think about underestimating.”
Cell C Sharks
1. Khwezi Mona
2. Fez Mbatha
3. Carlu Sadie
4. Thembelani Bholi
5. Ockie Barnard
6. Tino Mavesere
7. Siyambuku Ningiza
8. Celimpilo Gumede
9. Zee Mkhabela
10. Lionel Cronje
11. Anthony Volmink
12. Murray Koster (c)
13. Marnus Potgieter
14. Yaw Penxe
15. Nevaldo Fleurs
Replacements
16. Masikane Mazwi
17. Dian Bleuler
18. Khutha Mchunu
19. Athenkosi Khetahani
20. Marco de Wit
21. Damien Royal
22. Bradley Davids
23. Alwayno Visagie
