Sanity has seemingly prevailed in Durban with the selection of Curwin Bosch at flyhalf for the Sharks' crucial Super Rugby clash against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The Benhard Janse van Rensburg experiment flopped dismally against the plucky Southern Kings last week and such a risk cannot be taken against a Cheetahs side who tend to have the Sharks' number when they come to Bloemfontein.
The big Cheetahs ball carriers will ask questions of Bosch's defence but unlike the green Janse van Rensburg‚ Bosch offers far superior game management and tactical kicking.
With Cheetahs coach Franco Smith picking Fred Zeilinga as his starting 10‚ it was going to be incumbent on his Sharks counterpart Robert du Preez to pick his best pivot.
Du Preez said the magnitude of the Cheetahs game forced his hand but said Janse van Rensburg will make a name for himself as a flyhalf.
“I don't like dropping players after one game but this is a big game for us and with Curwin coming in at 10‚ he's been playing there all the time‚" Du Preez said.
"I'm happy with Curwin at 10 even though Benhard had a tough game against the Kings.
"It would have been tough for any flyhalf because our forwards couldn't get going.
"They made it very difficult for him but we'll hear and see more about Benhard in the future.
"He'll be spending some time with the Junior Springboks‚” Du Preez said.
Janse van Rensburg was one of four changes Du Preez made to the side that beat the Kings. Clement Poitrenaud starts at fullback while Etienne Oosthuizen‚ Coenie Oosthuizen and Tendai Mtawarira start again.
Juan Schoeman and John-Hubert Meyer miss out on match day representation while Lewies finds himself on the bench.
Du Preez knows his charges could be in for a long shift but felt they have shaken off their bad game against the Southern Kings.
“They (Cheetahs) are a very good team and they've got their captain back. We know what to expect of them because they're a side that loves to attack.
"From a defensive point of view‚ we know we're going to have to be very sharp‚” Du Preez said.
“We weren't happy with the performance against the Southern Kings but we've put that behind us now but we've had a good week where we've kept things short and sweet. I think we're good to go for this week.”
Cheetahs
15 Clayton Blommetjies‚ 14 Sergeal Petersen‚ 13 Francois Venter (captain)‚ 12 Nico Lee‚ 11 Raymond Rhule‚ 10 Fred Zeilinga‚ 9 Shaun Venter‚ 8 Henco Venter‚ 7 Oupa Mohoje‚ 6 Paul Schoeman‚ 5 Francois Uys‚ 4 Justin Basson‚ 3 Johan Coetzee‚ 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld‚ 1 Ox Nche
Substitutes: 16 Elandre Huggett‚ 17 Charles Marais‚ 18 Tom Botha‚ 19 Carl Wegner‚ 20 Niell Jordaan‚ 21 Tian Meyer‚ 22 Niel Marais‚ 23 Rayno Benjamin/Clinton Swart
Sharks
15 Clement Poitrenaud‚ 14 Kobus van Wyk‚ 13 Lukhanyo Am‚ 12 Andre Esterhuizen‚ 11 Lwazi Mvovo‚ 10 Curwin Bosch‚ 9 Cobus Reinach‚ 8 Tera Mtembu (captain)‚ 7 Jean-Luc du Preez‚ 6 Jacques Vermeulen‚ 5 Ruan Botha‚ 4 Etienne Oosthuizen‚ 3 Coenie Oosthuizen‚ 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle‚ 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes:16 Stephan Coetzee‚ 17 Thomas du Toit‚ 18 Lourens Adriaanse‚ 19 Stephan Lewies‚ 20 Daniel du Preez‚ 21 Michael Claassens‚ 22 Jeremy Ward‚ 23 Garth April - TMG Digital/TMG Sport
Bosch selected at flyhalf for the Sharks' crucial Super Rugby clash against the Cheetahs
Sanity has seemingly prevailed in Durban with the selection of Curwin Bosch at flyhalf for the Sharks' crucial Super Rugby clash against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The Benhard Janse van Rensburg experiment flopped dismally against the plucky Southern Kings last week and such a risk cannot be taken against a Cheetahs side who tend to have the Sharks' number when they come to Bloemfontein.
The big Cheetahs ball carriers will ask questions of Bosch's defence but unlike the green Janse van Rensburg‚ Bosch offers far superior game management and tactical kicking.
With Cheetahs coach Franco Smith picking Fred Zeilinga as his starting 10‚ it was going to be incumbent on his Sharks counterpart Robert du Preez to pick his best pivot.
Du Preez said the magnitude of the Cheetahs game forced his hand but said Janse van Rensburg will make a name for himself as a flyhalf.
“I don't like dropping players after one game but this is a big game for us and with Curwin coming in at 10‚ he's been playing there all the time‚" Du Preez said.
"I'm happy with Curwin at 10 even though Benhard had a tough game against the Kings.
"It would have been tough for any flyhalf because our forwards couldn't get going.
"They made it very difficult for him but we'll hear and see more about Benhard in the future.
"He'll be spending some time with the Junior Springboks‚” Du Preez said.
Janse van Rensburg was one of four changes Du Preez made to the side that beat the Kings. Clement Poitrenaud starts at fullback while Etienne Oosthuizen‚ Coenie Oosthuizen and Tendai Mtawarira start again.
Juan Schoeman and John-Hubert Meyer miss out on match day representation while Lewies finds himself on the bench.
Du Preez knows his charges could be in for a long shift but felt they have shaken off their bad game against the Southern Kings.
“They (Cheetahs) are a very good team and they've got their captain back. We know what to expect of them because they're a side that loves to attack.
"From a defensive point of view‚ we know we're going to have to be very sharp‚” Du Preez said.
“We weren't happy with the performance against the Southern Kings but we've put that behind us now but we've had a good week where we've kept things short and sweet. I think we're good to go for this week.”
Cheetahs
15 Clayton Blommetjies‚ 14 Sergeal Petersen‚ 13 Francois Venter (captain)‚ 12 Nico Lee‚ 11 Raymond Rhule‚ 10 Fred Zeilinga‚ 9 Shaun Venter‚ 8 Henco Venter‚ 7 Oupa Mohoje‚ 6 Paul Schoeman‚ 5 Francois Uys‚ 4 Justin Basson‚ 3 Johan Coetzee‚ 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld‚ 1 Ox Nche
Substitutes: 16 Elandre Huggett‚ 17 Charles Marais‚ 18 Tom Botha‚ 19 Carl Wegner‚ 20 Niell Jordaan‚ 21 Tian Meyer‚ 22 Niel Marais‚ 23 Rayno Benjamin/Clinton Swart
Sharks
15 Clement Poitrenaud‚ 14 Kobus van Wyk‚ 13 Lukhanyo Am‚ 12 Andre Esterhuizen‚ 11 Lwazi Mvovo‚ 10 Curwin Bosch‚ 9 Cobus Reinach‚ 8 Tera Mtembu (captain)‚ 7 Jean-Luc du Preez‚ 6 Jacques Vermeulen‚ 5 Ruan Botha‚ 4 Etienne Oosthuizen‚ 3 Coenie Oosthuizen‚ 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle‚ 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes:16 Stephan Coetzee‚ 17 Thomas du Toit‚ 18 Lourens Adriaanse‚ 19 Stephan Lewies‚ 20 Daniel du Preez‚ 21 Michael Claassens‚ 22 Jeremy Ward‚ 23 Garth April - TMG Digital/TMG Sport
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