Shaking things up in the Griquas camp, Coach Pieter Bergh has tweaked his lineup for the upcoming Currie Cup semi-final clash against the Cheetahs this Saturday in Kimberley. In a bold move, Cameron Hufke will be donning the fullback jersey, pushing Connor Mahoney to a bench role. Further bolstering the bench, the Griquas welcome back the fit-again hooker Tiaan Lange and the recently unsuspended prop Ig Prinsloo.
The changes come at a crucial time as the Griquas, who finished second in the standings with a commendable five wins out of seven games, look to repeat their recent dominating 40-10 win over the Cheetahs. With the semi-finals looming and stakes sky-high, Bergh’s strategy could be the wild card the team needs.
"Every match is a new challenge, and with the Cheetahs gunning for revenge after our last encounter, we’ve adjusted our lineup to keep them guessing,"
stated Bergh, underlining the tactical shuffle.The Cheetahs, meanwhile, are grappling with their own challenges, notably a flyhalf crisis that could leave them vulnerable in this high-pressure game. The semi-final, set to kick off at 7:15 PM following the Lions versus Boland Cavaliers match at Ellis Park, promises to be a spectacle of strategy and skill.
In addition to the lineup alterations, Bergh’s bench looks particularly formidable this time around, potentially giving the Griquas an edge in the later stages of the game. The inclusion of Lange and Prinsloo, both returning at a pivotal moment, could prove decisive in fortifying the team’s reserves.
Here’s how the teams will line up:
GRIQUAS – 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelenedaba, 11 Gurswin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Caleb Abrahams, 8 Gustav Erlank, 7 Carl Els, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 2 Cebo Dlamini (c), 2 Janco Uys, 1 Eddie Davids. Bench: 16 Tiaan Lange, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Ig Prinsloo, 19 Derik Pretorius, 20 Marco de Witt, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Tom Nel, 23 Connor Mahoney.
As the clock ticks down to what may be one of the most intensely contested matches of the season, all eyes will be on Kimberley to see if the Griquas’ strategic gambits pay off on the field.