Ex Supersport
The Cell C Sharks will head to Cape Town for their all-important final Vodacom Super Rugby league match against the DHL Stormers feeling they are short of their perfect selection as the knock-out phase draws closer.
The Sharks did win in Christchurch and Auckland with Frans Steyn at flyhalf, but by his own admission it is not the 2007 World Cup winner’s favourite position. The switch back to pivot from inside centre, his preferred position, comes about because former Western Province under-21 player Tim Swiel once again did not take his opportunity when he wore the No 10 against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last weekend.
And with Patrick Lambie still not ready to play, Sharks director of rugby White was left with a choice between giving Swiel one last chance, which would have been a massive risk at his former home ground, Newlands, against players who know him well, and either returning Steyn to flyhalf or starting with Fred Zeilinga.
The latter played an impressive game against the Waratahs in the early rounds, possibly the Sharks’ most comprehensive performance of the season, but was subsequently injured and has now become a bit of a forgotten man to White. He is back on the bench this week, but there would be many who may be wondering whether his adept tactical kicking game might be what the Sharks need against the Stormers.
Steyn has a long kick but he has struggled to adjust to the tactical game required of a flyhalf and the Stormers may be less concerned about facing a Sharks team with Steyn wearing the No 10 than they would have been had Lambie been named at pivot and Steyn in the midfield.
The switch of Steyn back to flyhalf is not the only backline change for the Sharks for the Cape Town game. JP Pietersen makes his first appearance of the season in the No 13 jersey as White takes the cue from Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, who has played Pietersen at outside centre in every test so far this year. (Wise mo
S’bura Sithole moves to Pietersen’s position on the wing in what is effectively a swop of position, while Paul Jordaan returns to the team at inside centre.
At forward there is no Beast Mtawarira at loosehead for the second successive week, but this time it is Thomas du Toit getting his first start at Super Rugby level in place of Dale Chadwick. Willem Alberts returns at blindside flank for Jean Deysel in the one change to the back row, while the two Du Plessis brothers, Bismarck and Jannie, are back in the starting team after playing off the bench last week.
Bismarck takes the captaincy armband back from Jean Deysel, who has been moved to the bench to accommodate Alberts on the side of the scrum.
White was due to hold a press conference late morning at Growthpoint Kings Park to explain his selections.
CELL C SHARKS TEAM: 15.SP Marais, 14.S’bura Sithole, 13.JP Pietersen, 12.Paul Jordaan, 11.Lwazi Mvovo, 10.Frans Steyn, 9.Cobus Reinach, 8.Ryan Kankowski, 7.Willem Alberts, 6.Marcell Coetzee, 5.Stephan Lewies, 4.Anton Bresler, 3.Jannie du Plessis, 2.Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1.Thomas du Toit.
Replacements: 16.Kyle Cooper, 17.Wiehahn Herbst, 18.Lourens Adriaanse, 19.Etienne Oosthuizen, 20.Jean Deysel, 21.Charl McLeod, 22.Fred Zeilinga, 23.Tonderai Chavhanga.
