Du Toit starts in Currie Cup final
Cell C Sharks coach Sean Everitt has named prop Thomas du Toit
in his starting line-up for the Carling Currie Cup final against the Bulls at
Loftus this Saturday.
The prop returned home due to a family bereavement from Australia but as a Springbok has been selected in a front row that will be boosted by his return.
The front row also includes Khwezi Mona on the loose head side, who comes into the starting XV after impressing off the bench in the semi-final last week.
The rest of the side remains unchanged from the team that beat Griquas last weekend to set up a repeat of last seasons Currie Cup final.
There is also a debutant in the Sharks mix in Lucky Dlepu who could win his first cap for the franchise in the biggest match of the domestic season.
The 21-year-old made the move to KwaZulu-Natal from Western Province and replaces Cameron Wright in the side after the experienced scrumhalf was injured last week.
In the most recent past, the Sharks and the Bulls have beaten each other once each in the Currie Cup and despite going in as underdogs coach Sean Everitt is full of confidence.
“It’s one-all in the Currie Cup, we’ve beaten them once and there’s no reason why we can’t do it again,” said Everitt.
“We know that the ball travels far at Loftus so we’re going to have to handle the aerial battle well, but we have three players – Curwin, Sanele and Lionel – who kick really well and will be up for the challenge.
“We know the Bulls have a massive pack of forwards, they are playing well and were sublime in their semi-final.”
Despite being full of praise for the Loftus-based side Everitt doesn’t think that they will change much for the showdown on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s all about momentum, we know what’s coming our way with regards to how they play and the emphasis for us will be about stopping their momentum and stopping their big ball-carriers,” the coach added.
Kick off at Loftus Versveld is at 17:00 on Saturday.
Cell C Sharks v Bulls
1. Khwezi Mona, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 3. Thomas du Toit, 4. Le Roux Roets, 5.
Gerbrandt Grobler, 6. Dylan Richardson, 7. Henco Venter, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi
(c), 9. Sanele Nohamba, 10. Lionel Cronje, 11. Thaakir Abrahams, 12. Marius
Louw, 13. Werner Kok, 14. Yaw Penxe, 15. Curwin Bosch.
Replacements
16. Dan Jooste, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Khutha Mchunu, 19. Thembelani Bholi,
20. Reniel Hugo, 21. Lucky Dlepu* (debut), 22. Jeremy Ward, 23. Anthony
Volmink.
